Merlin launch from Portsmouth

[Stuart]

We took a short break down in Portsmouth over the weekend so my daughter (the wanna-be naval historian) could visit HMS Victory on her 17th birthday.

We were not only lucky to get a really good view of both HMS Prince of Wales (R09) and HMS Queen Elizabeth II from our hotel window, but lucky enough to see the start of some flight ops as I drank my coffee - she launched three Merlins off the deck.



















All taken with my 40D and my Sigma 18-300mm. Alas my Auto Focus went US over the weekend and I was so distracted by having to manual focus, I forgot to ramp up the ISO so I could choose a lower shutter speed, so the blades aren't very blurred - a bit annoying but at least I go them.

God I need to clean my sensor though!

Cheers!

PS: Apparently the QE sailed the following day for her final sea trials - what a shame to have missed it by a day!

[PaulBradley]

How cool! Did your daughter enjoy Victory? And did you visit any of the other historic ships?

[Stuart]

She did thanks Paul!

Only the Victory this weekend, but she's been to the historic dock yards several times of the last 18 months and visited all the ships. She's totally mad on sailing and wants to be a naval historian. Her dream job would be to work on something like the Victory.

[PaulBradley]

If she's considering Uni, she could do worse than the University of Portsmouth, and she could then see about volunteering at the PHD.

[Stuart]

If she's considering Uni, she could do worse than the University of Portsmouth, and she could then see about volunteering at the PHD.

That's not a bad thought actually. She's only just started her A-levels but it won't be long before she has to start thinking about Uni's - thanks Paul.

She actually already volunteers at the local canal museum (at Stoke Bruene) during the holidays.. Well, she did before Covid anyway.

[jssel]

That is so cool