Yachts in Portland's Chesil beach cove

Sailing boats from Chesil beach.

Enjoying the fantastic weather last week on Portland's Chesil beach, I saw these boats anchored in the cove, it's not very often now we see boats "resting" here, so it made a nice change, would have liked to be on one of them to be honest, after all, it's one angle we rarely see Portland from.

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.

The Isle of Portland's gateway

Isle of Portland's "gateway" (wrong place!)

The Isle of Portland's gateway, apparently, which most of us on Portland would disagree with, knowing the real gateway is at ferry bridge, which sits on the other end of the causeway (beach road) leading off the island, from where the picture banner at the top of this blog was taken and...

Notice that big square sign, that IS the Welcome to Portland sign!

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.

Portland from sandsfoot castle

Taking a walk into Weymouth from Portland I took the Rodwell trial, along the old railway path. That is after what seems like the endless beach road causeway.

The Rodwell trial itself has improved alot.
Great to see that it is all nice and clean, tarmac has been laid down to complete it and making it a walk worth talking anytime!

Stopping along the way to take a few snaps like this one, taken from near sandsfoot castle and the small sailing club next to it.
This will be a common sight to the world in 2012.

Quite cool weather-wise thankfully seeing as it was a good 5 mile walk each way.

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.

"Portland from sandsfort castle"

My boys and I decided to walk from ferrybridge on the end of the beach rd along the old railway line to town for a change, we paused at sandsfort castle to take a picture.

You can see that sailing is pretty popular here, and why ;o)

Thankfully I had my camera with me and took a few pictures worth sharing, which I will do ;o)

A little hazy on the day.