We wake up early as Jim and Ben should finalize the water maker installation, and Göran needs to get to the train to go home. It is always sad to part when you have had a good time so I think a drink should be in order and so I have my first glass of my own water. Tastes great! Jim and I walk through the installation and maintenance and it feels nice to know that I will always have water aboard. Jim is in a hurry to the airport and I thank him for the installation and a nice company.

As I have this day on my own before Michael and Susanne arrive – I think that I should pay Portsmouth a visit, as I am curious on this naval town. I also know that going with me to museums is nobody’s idea of having a good time. I can get surprisingly interested in things that I come across, and can stay forever if the display is good.

But nothing should be done without a lunch! As I think it is my last chance – I go to Rocky and Barrie at Quay Fifteen to spoil myself with a really nice lunch – this time a Stone Bass. As I am waiting for the food, I try to learn how to fold the napkins as they do. Finally I get it right. The sad thing is that without practice – I need to learn it all over the next time I will try. Looks cool though.

I decide to take the train and jump off at the harbor station next to a huge complex of naval museums. There is too much to choose from in too limited time and I decide to visit the Victory – Nelsons flagship from Trafalgar. I have built this ship as a model a number of times when I was a kid and now it is time to see the real thing. They also recommend the harbour tour so I do that first since the last departure is within minutes. The Portsmouth harbour is big and well protected and is a major naval town. Two thirds of the Royal Navy is stationed here.

The Victory display is however a disappointment. Not the ship itself which is impressive, well preserved and nice to see as well as the fact that they are now renovating the ship to bring it back to even better shape. These old ships were the most sophisticated technology that the world could produce at the time and the flagship of the Royal Navy at Britains power period had to be something extra, and it is. However, the display gives no new information so I recommend a guided tour if you decide to go there. Still worth to see and I can nearly feel the feeling of the tiny plastic details of the Airfix models when I stroll around at the ship.

 

The museums at the Historic Dockyard are now closing up so I decide to visit the Emirates Spinnaker Tower that stretches 170 meter up in the air. Impressive sight and even though I am too traditional to fancy modern architecture, this building really looks good. The spinnaker shape really fits into the environment.

As I come up to the viewing deck, there is a glass bottom floor that you can walk on. It is strange how your mind works. Even if you understands that it is perfectly safe – your mind screams that you should stay off and when you step out on the glass it feels everything else than normal.

As I am standing enjoying the view out on the Solent, the Americas cup boats line up beneath me. Amazing to see these huge performance catamarans slide through the water. I now must make a decision to go and eat at the restaurant that Rocky recommended or to go and look at the cats first when I know where they are. This difficult dilemma is resolved by a phone call from Michael as they are getting close to Southampton and will be at the boat this evening. I have a couple of hours to get back so I need to rush to be able to clean the boat. Work before play as the rule goes. I jump on the train and take a taxi from the station to Shamrock Quay. The neat thing with Melody is that you can do a good cleaning in an hour so the boat is in nice condition as the new crew arrive. We spend the evening talking on their vacation in Scotland and doing the Channel Crossing planning together.