Watery Wanderings

Considering we live all year round with water alongside us (in winter occasionally all around us), I feel as if I haven't mentioned it in a while.  So here goes with a maritime melange of nautical news!

First off, the photo above (credit Nautipics) was taken during the recent Lymington Dinghy Regatta, hosted jointly by the Lymington Town Sailing Club and Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Over recent years this has become an ever more popular opportunity for local sailors to race in bigger fleets. A huge array of 120 boats took part across 2 race courses, including 190 sailors and almost 70 visiting teams. A mix of sunshine, wind-with-tide conditions (relatively flat sea) and building winds on Saturday provided a brilliant day's racing for all. The wind was too strong on Sunday - too much or too little wind are the constant par for the course for sailors! 

Motorboats are a lot less dependent on favourable winds and tides; for a suitable model whether RIB or powerboat, look no further than BHG Marine in Berthon Lymington Marina with its excellent selection. BHG is also exhibiting next week at the New Forest Show.

No boat but fancy getting out on the Solent this summer? Book now for a luxuriously leisurely cruise with lunch or dinner on board - and a possible seal sighting! - with Escape Yachting.

Last weekend Lymington Sea Water Baths was the venue for a very special swim course led by open water Olympic legend Cassie Patten, teaching breast-stroke swimmers step by step how to achieve a sustainable freestyle/front crawl action. At the start of the course the “ladybobbers” as one of the swimmers referred to herself were the majority, but after two days of drills and exercises including the second day in the sea itself, they had all been transformed into open water freestyle swimmers. There will be more courses of this kind next year, keep an eye on the Events Calendar if this appeals!
 

And Now For The Long Summer Holidays...

Of course the school holidays aren't as long as they used to be back in the day, and somehow summer itself already seems to have been pretty long! Nevertheless, for most schools this weekend marks the real start of the summer holidays. 

And on the watery theme, where better to celebrate in these properly summery temperatures, than at the Lymington Sea Water Baths: on the giant inflatables or stand-up paddle boards or simply swimming, in the enormous, fully lifeguarded pool! On Sunday 17 August the affectionately known 'Lymington Lido' is also hosting a charity Family Fun Day, with all donations to the ever deserving RNLI.

Or for a real taste of water all around whilst feet are on dry land head to Hurst Castle, which has just added its summer holiday events to the Events Calendar - including Tudor Tuesdays, Wildlife Wednesdays and Throwback Thursdays!

There are oodles of suggestions below for summery things to do in the holidays. They range from holiday camps hosted by local independent schools in their beautiful grounds which make you wish you'd been able to go to a school like that, to an imaginative selection of dance workshops at New Forest Academy of Dance and a host of family friendly films at the Malt Cinema in Lymington Community Centre. There's tons going on at Exbury Gardens as well as Beaulieu. More events and activities are being added all the time so do keep an eye on the full Events Calendar. (Members - if you haven't added your holiday events yet, do it quickly so they can be included in next week's Diary!)

And if you're looking for something to play with over the holidays, check out the Oakhaven Hospice shops: there's a children's shop in Lymington and children's departments in Totton and Hythe…plus a section for children in the new Lymington Home & Craft shop. Each of the shops is an Aladdin’s cave filled with real treasures - and the ultimate in recycling! In the children's departments you'll find preloved toys and games galore, at great prices. And every purchase helps local families who find themselves needing the invaluable care and support of our hospice.

In Other News...

While major concerns about the new wheelie bins continue to make national as well as local news...in case you too have a roll of clear recycling bags left over from the olden days, I checked with NFDC and we can use them up for our rubbish in the new black bins.  A small wheelie win?!

A mention for the Summer Sale at Lymington Tile Centre: save 10% off all Ca'Pietra Tiles and 20% off everything else. 

Next week is the big summer event in the New Forest: the New Forest Show. If you're going, do find the Local Produce Market where Members of the New Forest Marque will have lots of fabulous local food and drink for you to try and buy. 

And then next Saturday it's the big summer event in Lymington: Picnic in the Park, complete with classic car show! Next week's newsletter will include full details of what's happening when through the day.

Meanwhile beginning at lunchtime today is the all-weekend-long Beer, Cider & Music Festival at the Turfcutters Arms. See you there! 

Best wishes Jane
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PS Don't forget to keep an eye on the full Events Calendar where many more events are listed.

Read the rest of this week's newsletter here

And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!

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