This year’s PSP SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW will play host to the impressive HMS Bulwark from 22 to 25 September. HMS Bulwark is an integral part of the Royal Navy’s fleet and is set to be a must-see attraction at the Show.

Measuring a staggering 176 metres long, HMS Bulwark is a sight you can’t miss! On Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September from 11:00 to 18:00 and Sunday 25 September from 10:00 to 12:30, visitors to the show will be able to climb aboard, talk to the crew and explore this astounding ship.

HMS Bulwark is part of the Albion class – the UK’s newest class of amphibious assault warships. She was launched in 2001 and has since taken part in operational tasking off the coast of Southern Iraq. Following her flagship status in the Taurus 09 deployment, she underwent a six-month refit in 2010 and rejoined the fleet in March of this year.

If you have an interest in electrical propulsion, then hurry down to the HISWA TE WATER Boat Show, between 6 – 11 September 2011 at the Marina Seaport Ijmuiden, in The Netherlands. Leading electrical specialist Mastervolt is arranging a series of free practical demonstrations three times a day at the Show, including a ride on the canal in an e-powered sloep, which guests can try their hand at driving. You can book a place by visiting the Mastervolt booth, K104, which is also serving free drinks after each tour.

As part of the EU-funded HYMAR (Hybrid Marine) initiative, and as the owners of Bellman electric drives, Mastervolt has experts on hand to guide visitors through the various electric drives on selected boats at the Show. These vary from PodMaster drives, where the motor is suspended beneath the boat in a torpedo-shaped pod, to a fully internal installation.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2011 will be remembered as one of the liveliest and most spectacular regattas of recent years.  Blessed by superb racing conditions, which also made for some great spectating, the 2011 edition of the world’s best-known sailing regatta has been described as a vintage year; a great way to celebrate the first year of the new title sponsor. 

During a week in which the wind speed regularly exceeded 20 knots, with gusts above 30 knots there were, at times, testing conditions. This did not put off competitors at the regatta however, who embraced the challenge.

Commenting on the Week, Stuart Quarrie, CEO of regatta organisers Cowes Week Limited said: “The week has gone extremely well.  It’s been windy and testing but we’ve seen some fantastic sailing in the Solent. 

This year’s event saw another breezy but sunny day with gusty and shifty winds continuing to test competitors: a light shower at midday saw winds peak at 20-23 knots before falling briefly to 9-12 knots and then building to around 15 knots.

Today was the last day of racing for most White Group classes, with the fiercest of battles for the overall results taking place in the Squib class. Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey’s Lady Penelope – who travelled from the east coast – led the fleet across the finish line in six of the first seven races.

However, she had been OCS on two of these occasions and went into the final race only one point ahead of local sailor Fred Warren-Smith’s Aquabat. As well as the race for the overall class title, Duncan Grindley’s Surprise, had a mathematical chance to snatch second place, while six boats started the final race with a chance of taking third overall.

The penultimate day of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week was a more gentle day than those earlier in the week, starting with bright sun and a gentle breeze that built to 15-18 knots. It also saw incredibly tight racing across dozens of classes and a surprise early winner in the XOD class.

The overall winner of IRC Class 0 was decided by a margin of just one second, while today’s race for the Victory class was also incredibly close, with the first nine boats finishing within 95 seconds.

Similarly, just 49 seconds separated the first three boats in IRC Class 3 on corrected time at the end of their three-hour race.