Clipper Round the World Race Begins
The 12 Clipper Race yachts left the Gosport Marina and will perform a parade of sails alongside the Spinnaker Tower before heading off to London. As the boats left the marina, other crews waved goodbye and wished them luck for their quick journey to the capitol where they will have their final prep week. Following months of training and preparations involving a constant throng of crew and skippers, the Clipper Race HQ in Gosport was left eerily empty and quiet today as the race fleet slipped its lines and the crew departed Portsmouth Harbour for London for the tenth edition Race Start. The event, which will involve 700 crew members from 41 different countries…
New Warship for Oman’s Royal Navy
HM Naval Base Portsmouth was lit up red, white and green this morning as BAE Systems handed over the third of three new warships to the Royal Navy of Oman. AL RASIKH is a 99 meter corvette designed, built and delivered as part of Project Khareef. The Interim Acceptance ceremony was attended by dignitaries from both Oman and the U.K. who witnessed the ship’s crew board the vessel to raise the National Flag of Oman for the first time. Mick Ord, Managing Director of BAE Systems Naval Ships, said, “This is a proud day for the Royal Navy of Oman as it takes ownership of the third Khareef Class corvette, which has been completed to the highest standard. Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower also joined the colorful celebrations by lighting up in Oman’s national colors.
Halyard Chairman Takes the Plunge for Swanage RNLI
Halyard Marine’s Chairman, James Grazebrook has completed a 170-meter abseil down Portsmouth’s 550-foot Spinnaker Tower. James Grazebrook, founder of South Coast based marine exhaust specialists, Halyard, and four other brave RNLI committee members, Richard Acland, Alistair Groom, Marcus Trinick and Mark Waterhouse joined forces on Saturday, May 25 to take part in the Spinnaker abseil to raise much-needed funds for an upgraded lifeboat station at Swanage. To upgrade the boathouse for the arrival of the new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat…
Aircraft Carrier on the Move
The 6,000 tonne hull section of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, known as Lower Block 02, will set off on its four day journey to Rosyth on Monday 21 May. The forward section of hull has been moved out of BAE Systems’ production facility at Portsmouth and loaded onto a huge sea going barge in preparation for the journey. On Friday 25 May, a team of 50 cyclists from across the Aircraft Carrier Alliance will take on a gruelling challenge to mark the occasion, cycling 500 miles from Portsmouth to Rosyth in an attempt to complete the journey in a faster time and raise money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. To follow and track the block’s journey to Rosyth, visit http://www.shipais.com/.
