Portland Sailing academy and Hamm beach

PORTLAND sailing academy! 

Talking a nice walk over the Chesil beach Road with my youngest son, I stopped to snap the sailing academy where the 2012 Olympics will be, with it's new backdrop too, you can if you look closely (right click image to open enlarged in new window) see the search and rescue helicopter coming to land.

The revamped block of flats dominate the area, there are two blocks, one finished, one not... the one still looking as it did on the left shows how drab they were, the updated one on the right, looking bright and new really does make that difference.

Chesil beach under summer blue skies

Chesil beach

The weather on Portland is still fantastic, far to good to be indoors and much to hot to miss out, considering what a winter we had, it's no surprise to see people making the most of the summer.

Looks like I am not the only one judging by the amount of people I have seen out enjoying it, diving, swimming, canoeing (as you see in the picture) fishing and some sunbathers... (hopefully being sensible with sunscreen!)

Portlanders betrayed...again, with lies and disrespect

This view has changed forever, for a few reasons, with the removal of the big tanks seen towards the back to be replaced with big industrial type buildings.

To the right is a slightly more concerning change with the loss of the "officers field" (click image to enlarge) to some outrageously built "eco homes" which are hideous.

Not only have we been let down on Portland regarding this field, (the only playing field down underhill) but we have been misled on what the homes would look like.

These are monstrous 3 storey buildings that have completely ruined the view.

Portland's luxury flats with that Olympic view

 I found this older picture of the old naval flats.... before the revamp into luxury apartments for private sale, and boy do they look drab and ugly?

Most of us locals felt they should have been pulled down as was the original plan, the navy only intended them to be up for ten years, then replaced with something much more fitting to the area that benefits the locals.

Thankfully the new look after the revamp is a huge improvement and looks much better being white, although they are more likely to be sold to non locals as a holiday home which is a shame.

I felt personally they should have made it into a 4 or 5 star hotel, overlooking the marina it could have been a good addition to the island and boost the little tourism we do get here, at least add to those coming for the sailing and windsurfing.

There's going to be some great views from this building in the 2012 Olympics.

At least the buildings are better...
Nevertheless, looking at this drab picture anything was an improvement.

Portland in still waters

Portland looking serene in still waters under a grey sky, taken from the very far end of "hamm beach" that runs alongside the beach road causeway.

It is on these waters you find the windsurfing championships, any weekend or indeed some weekdays you will see windsurfers and kite-surfers out there, also soon to be the waters for sailing in the 2012 Olympics.

This was such a quiet beach when we were young, mum often took me and my two brothers down there in the summer and we often had the whole beach to ourselves, all day, not so now with the windsurfers and such.

The water here is shallow for quite a way out making it a very safe place for the kids to play, or it did, but the windsurfers add a new danger to consider, although most are considerate enough to not be so close to the shore so it is still safe as long as everyone is aware of those around them.

Portland looks great from this beach with nothing in front of it to interrupt the view.

Sunsets over Portland's "mere farm"

Overlooking the Fleet and Portland harbour, the scene of the 2012 Olympic sailing, taken from the top of what is known as "the incline"...a steep path from the bottom directly toward the top, or top directly to the bottom.

Originally used with boxes on rails for transporting goods from the top directly down toward the water to be transported on boats.

As I sat up here I thought about the many generations of Portlanders who had also sat here in wonder at the sunsets we have over Chesil beach.

The foreground was known as the "mere farm" and has now as you can see been reclaimed and built on by the navy who are no longer here.

I don't myself have any photos of this scene before the navy changed the mere farm from what it was to the solid ground it is now.

The one thing that doesn't and won't change are the stunning sunsets we enjoy here.

Ongoing work in time for 2012 Olympics

The old naval flats in the background have been turned into luxury flats with that stunning view across the harbour where the 2012 Olympic sailing will be held.

In the foreground is the newer ongoing works, roughly where the old "control tower" was.

Behind me from this shot is where the more "industrial" type of building has been going on, mainly boat builders and sail-makers type of industry.

At last the part of the island is starting to take shape... hopefully they will also spend time improving the main entrance to the island known locally as "vicky sq"... (Victoria square)

Portlands sailing academy, 2012 OIympics venue

Portland's ongoing work to replace the old tankers, which have now all been removed.
The place looks better without the tankers but the old pictures showing the tanks make me think of how it used to be here.

In some ways for me the port still seems "out of bounds" due to the navy being here during my whole childhood. It just feels off at times. Very strange and no idea if other locals still get that odd feeling?

Turning around from the same point of the above picture shows you the sailing academy, like below, where the 2012 Olympics will be held... NO-WHERE near Weymouth. It's 100% in Portland water.



It's even inside our old naval "breakwater" boundary.

In the picture here you can also see the new additions to Portland... namely the 3 wind turbines.

This part of Portland is improving fast, just hope that more money will be used to improve more of Portland in time for 2012, this place will be on the TV shown worldwide.

NOT Weymouth, which is hellbent on grabbing any publicity and benefit it can from Portland. They are very slow to share the other way though.