Ventura, Independence of the Seas, Oceana (II) & Queen Mary 2
The first of my trips to see four ships on the 15th May 2010.  Ventura was in Ocean, Independence of the Seas in City, Oceana in Mayflower with Mary was in her rightful place alongside QEII.  She was originally due to dock port but sometime the previous day they changed it to starboard.  It was a decent day for a change, but alternated between cold and hot.  I went down the marina and was picked up at 9.30am.  The wind was pretty blustery and tide strong as we made our way around the docks to get up close and personal to the ladies.  Such a shame Mary was the wrong way round.  Would've made fantastic bow shots.  As we sauntered, the training ship Lord Nelson headed out.  We were glad Mary was Whitchallenger-free, though it was a race against time for photos because the fuel bunker was on its way to her.
We tied to a buoy to enjoy the scenery and have a cup of tea and some nibbles.  We saw a swan and think it was on a nest.  Another was nearby by seemingly catching fish.  When we set off again it had become much warmer.  Annoyingly Grande Spagna was arriving.  These were beginning to be pain blocking the view as much as last year's banana - Red Osprey!  As we meandered back down, we were passed by the tugs Sarah and Bentley who were going for the APL California in the container terminal.  There was also a cute little boat on the slipway at Husband's Shipyard called Racia.
And so after a pleasant couple of hours on the water, we returned to the marina for fuel and drop me off then, after I took the final picture of Mary from dry land, met my dad and we went home until the sailings.

Next

© Patricia Dempsey 15th May 2010
Not to be reproduced without permission