2020 March The View From The Dartmouth Office

Every picture on this website, with no exception, is taken from one place - our Dartmouth office garden

THE VIEW FROM THE DARTMOUTH OFFICE

MARCH 2020 TVFTDO

What a wet start to a month.

Not to worry though, this is Dartmouth and if it's raining one minute it might not be the next.

So far this month.......

A few rainbows

The filthiest river

The front end of one huge container ship.

And the first cruise ship of the season. The brand spanking new Fridtjof Nansen .

And I reckon that it's the owner of the world's loudest horn.

There are 239 Photos in this album over five pages. Click on a thumbnail to see it larger. You can even start a slide show.

01 March 2020 - 12-51-42
Nothing more or less than one fine day in Dartmouth.
We are beginning to notice these things a bit more.

01 March 2020 - 12-56-21
The roof and dormer taking shape over at Foxholes. Just a small extension in Kingswear.

01 March 2020 - 15-33-44
It's an unwritten rule of TVFTDO. If a rainbow is seen, it has to be snapped. And, obviously, some are better than others.

02 March 2020 - 14-02-34
Saw this little rib shifting in and out of the harbour. Nippy little thing. Name of Williams.

02 March 2020 - 14-05-01
It’s a Williams Jet Tender - (the turboJet model).Made in Wallingford, a long way from the sea.

02 March 2020 - 14-09-40
Designed to ferry up to four people from a luxury yacht to the shore. Fast.

02 March 2020 - 14-11-18
Rather neat, if not too well balanced with just the driver. It’s a Williams Jet Tender, RurboJet model. In excess of £20,000 new.

02 March 2020 - 16-13-26
A rather unusual rainbow. Blue sky beneath and rain cloud above.

03 March 2020 - 07-04-48
One small tear in the cloud on Tuesday morning. Just enough to let a bit of the golden light through.

03 March 2020 - 07-05-39
Otherwise it was a grey old sky.

03 March 2020 - 16-48-10
Late afternoon and our hillside is creating the shadow that slowly creeps up the hill in Kingswear. But, hey, it’s blue sky.

03 March 2020 - 17-30-01
The front end of the almost 400 meter long (399.72 for exactness) container ship Costco Shipping Libra. Off to Port Said having departed Rotterdam Massvlakte.

03 March 2020 - 17-30-21
There was a back end, it just wasn’t in focus.

04 March 2020 - 06-32-48
In the murk at 6.30am Plymouth based tug Prince Rock sets off out to meet a new friend.

04 March 2020 - 07-18-34
Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen passes Kingswear Castle as it arrives in the port of Dartmouth for a'trial' visit.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-18-56
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth passing between Kingswear and Dartmouth castles.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-20-22
It’s the Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen. Our first of the season coming into Dartmouth.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-23-16
Escorted by tug Plymouth Rock cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen passes Kingswear as it arrives in Dartmouth
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-24-17
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth.
140 meters long and 24 m wide (called the beam) the ship is named after the Norwegian explorer and Nobel Peace Prize winner Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930)
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-24-32
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. Not the most attractive of front ends.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-25-04
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. It is designed for expedition cruising in the Antarctic. So wrap up warm on them balconies.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-25-35
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. Those are all suites on the stern - with removable storm windows it looks like. Probably necessary for the Antarctic where it'll be going.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-27-07
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth and sets of upriver to the 'roundabout.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-35-42
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. She's a shade bigger than our little Peggy which is just about visible somewhere at the bottom of this pic.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-38-10
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. Fore an aft thrusters helped. No three point turn for this baby.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-38-42
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. The tug was there for emergencies. (well, possibly the insurance company insisted).
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-39-24
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. Mind you, I didn't see any signalling. Shouldn't the front right hand indicator be on. And the rear left hand one too ?
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-40-26
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-42-00
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. A skilfulllful operation. I wonder how much of it is computer controlled?
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-42-53
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. At right angles.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-43-14
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. Ready to put on the main power.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-46-09
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. And here she comes back down river.

Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-48-43
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. Look in the background at the ferry queue.

Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-51-02
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. The ferry queue looked long, but it cleared in one journey.

Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-51-41
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. A shame the day wasn't better, particularly as the 'passengers' included a lot of travel agents. (and cruise line staff).
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 07-52-30
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. She is aiming for the parking bay between mainstream buoys numbers one and two.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 08-03-54
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth. All manoeuvring was done very calmly and gently. The side thrusters slowly pushed her into the 'bay. Proper parallel parking.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 08-07-46
As cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth the Dart Harbour crew grab the first mooring lines and head for the buoy.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 08-08-02
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen moors in Dartmouth, Devon and the Dart Harbour crew grab the first line and head for the buoy.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 08-09-03
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen moors in Dartmouth, Devon - the Dart Harbour crew fasten the first line to mainstream buoy No. 1.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 12-42-09
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen moored in Dartmouth, Devon. If anything, the day got murkier. It certainly got wetter. Not the best Devon welcome.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 14-56-35
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen moored in Dartmouth, Devon. Two tenders ferried folk the 80 yards to shore. There was a reluctance to swim.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 17-45-45
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen prepares to depart from Dartmouth, Devon. End of visit, time to put tender / lifeboat back in the garage.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-09-04
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen prepares to depart from Dartmouth, Devon.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-18-19
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen prepares to depart from Dartmouth, Devon. The light was fast disappearing and progress was initially rather slow. Probably checking they had remembered everything. You know, 'doors to manual', that sort of thing. Oh, and then they remembered the horn.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-22-56
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen departs from Dartmouth, Devon passing Kingswear on the opposite bank. Slightly faster than I would have liked. And that horn ! The loudest thing on the planet.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-24-03
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen departs Dartmouth, Devon after a successful, if slightly wet visit. Coming back soon though.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-24-48
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen departs Dartmouth. After the three blasts on the horn, most passengers and residents were trying to get their hearing back.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-26-56
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen departs from Dartmouth, Devon passing out to sea past Kingswear Castle.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-28-14
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen departs from Dartmouth, Devon passing out to sea past Kingswear Castle. Off out to the cruel open sea.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

04 March 2020 - 18-29-40
Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen departs from Dartmouth, Devon passing out to sea past Kingswear Castle.
This night time departure of Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen made for difficult snapping. But I did it, so you didn't have to.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

05 March 2020 - 08-14-18
We have got our filthy river back again.
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Muddy river Dart

05 March 2020 - 12-39-17
Torrential rain is the culprit. This brown sediment has all come down Weeke Hill and into Warfleet.
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Muddy river Dart

05 March 2020 - 12-39-48
366 metre long container ship Costco Portugal passes the end of the river Dart on its voyage from Felixstowe to Suez Canal.
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Cargo ship Costco

05 March 2020 - 12-40-06
Too big for the gap as viewed from Above Town in Dartmouth. The 366 metre long container ship Costco Portugal passes the end of the river Dart on its voyage from Felixstowe to Suez Canal.
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Cargo ship Costco

06 March 2020 - 11-15-11
One day after Warfleet Creek stream attempted to recolour the river, Dartmoor has assisted with its run off arriving at the river mouth.
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Muddy river Dart

06 March 2020 - 13-28-34
Out of view from TVFTDO is a dinky little pink cottage on the edge of Warfleet Creek and below Paradise Point. Sorry that should have been was, not is. It's being demolished and taken away by this boat.
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Dartmouth riverside construction

06 March 2020 - 13-37-05
This little channel is only navigable at a high tide. It's likely to be a long slow rebuild.
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Dartmouth riverside construction deliveries

06 March 2020 - 15-40-29
Devon & Cornwall Poloce helicopter G-DCPB passes over Dartmouth. Thankfully not stopping
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Devon & Dornwall police helicopter

07 March 2020 - 17-19-45
This is one of those shots I take to record the fact I was here. In fact I had spent most of the day at a wine course at Michael Suttons. Which was excellent.
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Kingswear general view

08 March 2020 - 09-51-03
Container ship Maersk Ohio (292.08m) travelling from Bremerhaven to Charleston. Last passed here on Feb 20th, when it was going to Antwerp from Norfolk, Virginia.
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Cargo ship Maersk Ohio

08 March 2020 - 09-51-20
The first picture looks like container ship Maersk Ohio is passing at right angles across the river mouth. But look at the stern in this pic. It's travelling away at quite an angle. ie it's even bigger than it looks.
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Cargo ship Maersk Ohio

09 March 2020 - 09-38-15
Time to get the buoys out. Dart Harbour crews begin to re-lay the trot mooring buoys between RDYC and Inverdart.
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Dart Harbour crew mooring maintenance

09 March 2020 - 09-48-57
More maintenance going on, this time on the Kingswear slip. Avoiding all jokes about cracks, suffice to say this chap is re-laying the stone cobbles.
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Kingswear slipway maintenance

09 March 2020 - 13-21-14
It's Commonwealth Day. So out comes the bunting.
Yes, I know they are flags of the Commonwealth.
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BRNC flags

09 March 2020 - 13-59-46
Yet another reason to own a scaffold company. It wasn't all that long ago that this place had a total makeover. Perhaps there's a new owner.....

10 March 2020 - 10-45-34
Annual maintenance for the Higher Ferry. First of all high and dry on the Kingswear side.
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Dartmouth Higher Ferry maintenance

10 March 2020 - 10-46-11
And then soon the Higher Ferry will come and sit on this he cradle. Probably have its bottom scraped.
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Dartmouth Higher Ferry maintenance

10 March 2020 - 12-54-44
Dart Harbour's mini-me crane is joined by Hercules to speed up the buoy laying
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Dart Harbour crew mooring maintenance

10 March 2020 - 13-02-47
With the Higher Ferry aground (deliberately) the Lower Ferry is doing extra business.
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Dartmouth Lower Ferry

10 March 2020 - 13-49-16
I never want to hear anyone say that they cannot fit their car down Above Town.....
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Crane in narrow Dartmouth road Above Town

10 March 2020 - 13-49-23
The electricity company found a crane capable of lifting a four ton transformer into their substation. More importantly they also found a driver who didn't flinch.
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Crane in narrow Dartmouth road Above Town

10 March 2020 - 13-49-51
It's impressive that the crane got to this point. Most taxi drivers refuse to come this far along.
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Crane in narrow Dartmouth road Above Town

10 March 2020 - 13-50-15
Very gently does it. You wouldn't want a four ton transformer landing on your foot. It would transform you.
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Crane in narrow Dartmouth road Above Town

10 March 2020 - 13-50-19
Odd place for a substation. Even more odd still was the fact that our power didn't go off.
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Crane in narrow Dartmouth road Above Town

10 March 2020 - 13-51-00
Didn't take long at all - the old one had been lifted out earlier. And then all the crane driver had to do was......reverse out of Above Town. Probably not quite so simples.
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Crane in narrow Dartmouth road Above Town

11 March 2020 - 08-12-06
Rock-a-bye-Baby. Dartmouth's Higher Ferry arrives to settle in its cradle for well earn botty scrub. It's the annual maintenance week and in a few pix time you'll see how it settled down.
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Dartmouth Higher Ferry maintenance

11 March 2020 - 11-06-28
Unusual visitor. RNLI lifeboat (referred to as RNLB) Daniel L Gibson was in earlier and then popped back whilst travelling to Poole.
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RNLI Lifeboat

11 March 2020 - 11-09-29
RNLB Daniel L Gibson, also known as 17-38 is part of the RNLI's relief fleet.
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RNLI Lifeboat

11 March 2020 - 11-11-15
Send for Hitchcock. The birds have arrived.
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Dartmouth Higher Ferry maintenance

11 March 2020 - 11-12-20
Sitting very nicely on its cradle, Dartmouth's Higher Ferry is being read nursery rhymes. Or. perhaps more likely, having its bottom scraped and anti-fouled.
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Dartmouth Higher Ferry maintenance

11 March 2020 - 11-13-42
RNLB Daniel L Gibson didn't stay too long. Off to Poole she soon went.
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RNLI Lifeboat

11 March 2020 - 13-52-38
Clear to see just how effective the dredging has been up at Noss on Dart marina. Large sections of the mud flats have all but disappeared.
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Construction at Noss-on-Dart

11 March 2020 - 14-55-53
University Squadron river patrol vessel HMS Ranger returned to Sandquay dockyard (at BRNC) this afternoon.
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Archer class HMS Ranger

11 March 2020 - 16-11-11
And then the Border Force cutter HMS Vigilant wandered upriver.
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Border Force vessel inDartmouth

11 March 2020 - 17-14-15
Passing by, out to sea was RSS Asia, yet another vehicle carrier that set off from Antwerp to Dakar in Senegal. Is it really full of vehicles for Africa ?
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Cargo ship RSS Asia

11 March 2020 - 17-16-27
Talking of vehicles. There were too many in Kingswear today. Not helped by the Higher Ferry being out of action. But the main problem was getting out of the village.
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Kingswear traffic jam

11 March 2020 - 21-05-52
I've seen suggestions that this is a worm moon. What on earth that is. Oh, it's not on earth apparently.
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Full moon beside Daymark

12 March 2020 - 12-19-31
A quick visit from Royal Navy Wildcat ZZ735. Circled BRNC, flew downriver circled the Daymark and disappeared Paignton way.
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Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter ZZ735

12 March 2020 - 12-20-02
This is Wildcat ZZ735 disappearing towards Paignton. Or Brixham, Take your pick.
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Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter ZZ735

12 March 2020 - 12-21-25
Filthy water, but it served to clearly show the 'bar'. The division between incoming tide and river flow at the narrowest point between Kingswear and Dartmouth Castles.
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Muddy river Dart

12 March 2020 - 12-22-32
It's a short sequence of 'bumps' in the water. As you can see the water either side is relatively calm.
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Muddy river Dart

12 March 2020 - 12-23-18
It seems that those bumps are a lot of fun on a rib.
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Muddy river Dart

12 March 2020 - 12-24-18
Rocking on her cradle. The Higher Ferry bottom scrub continues.
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Dartmouth Higher Ferry maintenance

12 March 2020 - 14-44-46
Early afternoon a rainbow popped up that was almost not worth recording.......
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Rainbow between Dartmouth and Kingswear

12 March 2020 - 17-10-29
....and then oater, along came a proper job. A decent double rainbow framing Kingswear.
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Double rainbow over Kingswear

12 March 2020 - 17-12-17
You'll get wet looking for that pot of gold from this rainbow.
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Rainbow over river Dart

13 March 2020 - 08-44-27
Royal Navy Aerospatiale Dauphin 2 helicopter ZJ164, usually used by Fleet Air Arm, flew east to west over Dartmouth. See pic after next.
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Royal Navy executive Dauphin 2 helicopter

13 March 2020 - 08-57-56
This large house (possibly a block of flats) at the end of Waterhead Creek in Kingswear wasn't long ago given a makeover). Looks like there's another one on the cards.
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Royal Navy executive Dauphin 2 helicopter

13 March 2020 - 09-56-57
Look who's back - but flying in the same direction. ie, it's been back to pick up more passengers maybe ? It's a Royal Navy Aerospatiale Dauphin 2 helicopter number ZJ164
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Royal Navy executive Dauphin 2 helicopter

14 March 2020 - 09-09-20
Dartmouth gig club have been out training in all weathers. But are there going to be any regattas early in the season ?
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Dartmouth gig rowing

14 March 2020 - 09-25-17
The view inside........... Guernsey fishing boat Sarah P ( GU399 )
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MFV Sarah P from Guernsey

14 March 2020 - 09-25-37
And here's the whole compact little thing: Guernsey fishing boat Sarah P ( GU399 )
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MFV Sarah P from Guernsey

14 March 2020 - 18-07-55
A new Netflix production ? Probably not, but some serious-is looking filming going on in Kingswear.
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Kingswear filming

14 March 2020 - 19-13-40
It's rather noticeable that there are substantially more house illuminated in Kingswear this week. Might it be COVID-19 related ?
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Kingswear general view at night

15 March 2020 - 00-22-38
Even more lit up the following night. It's probably easier to self isolate in Kingswear than it is in Fulham or wherever.
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Kingswear general view at night

15 March 2020 - 14-00-17
Plymouth tug Prince Rock arrives to assist cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen's arrival tomorrow.
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Plymouth tug Prince Rock

15 March 2020 - 14-00-48
Looks like a new motor ? Very smart - called Breaksea of Dartmouth.
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MV Breaksea of Dartmouth

15 March 2020 - 16-26-06
Yes, yet another rainbow. Rather vivid it was at the end.
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Rainbow over river Dart

15 March 2020 - 16-26-43
A hint of double. So not the greatest rainbow. But adequate.
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Double rainbow over river Dart and Kingswear

15 March 2020 - 16-33-12
The second arc had started to disappear, but this is shot in panorama mode on my iPhone.
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Double rainbow over river Dart and Kingswear

16 March 2020 - 07-14-45
Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen arrives in Dartmouth for its second of three visits this month.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 07-20-50
Plymouth tug Prince Rock leads the way past Kingswear for Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 07-20-56
Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen is 140 metres long. And the usable river where it turns is not all that much wider.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 07-36-44
It took about twelve minutes for Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen to complete its 180 degree turn and head back down river.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 07-39-19
This is part of a sequence of the ship turning that I hope I can upload here eventually. This new website is a steep learning curve for me.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 07-53-12
Quite a crowd aboard - The last visit had company families and travel agents aboard Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen. So perhaps these are more of the same.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 07-55-36
That's a pretty powerful bow thruster. Which, of course, is probably the secret of the well executed about turn of Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 07-57-37
We waved. But didn't see anyone aboard Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen wave back as they glided into Dartmouth.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 08-04-19
The wider view. Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen sitting pretty in the centre of the river Dart between Dartmouth and Kingswear, Devon.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 08-07-31
Dart harbour crews know how to tie a good bowline. But in a three inch thick rope ?
Mooring Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen is not the most straightforward of operations.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 08-38-51
Some strong locks on that loading platform.
But if you're a cruise ship passenger aboard Fridtjof Nansen, it's a convenient dropping off point.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 08-42-14
It's better than swimming ashore to Dartmouth's town jetty from the Fridtjof Nansen.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 16-10-30
Sitting very pretty in the river Dart today - under some glorious Devon sun - the Norwegian cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 16-11-26
When the sun hits Fridtjof Nansen it kind of lights up. But then so does the Dart valley.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 16-48-38
Devon and Cornwall's police helicopter G-DCPB popped by, maybe for a gander at the cruise ship in town, the Fridtjof Nansen.
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Davon & Cornwall Police Helicopter

16 March 2020 - 17-52-02
It's that last knot - always the hardest to get undone. Dart Harbour crew release the cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 17-59-26
Lynx the pilot boat leads cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen out from the harbour of the port of Dartmouth, Devon.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 18-02-09
The front end. Shaped much like some back ends. The unusual shape of cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 18-02-51
Gliding past Kingswear, cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen heads for the open sea.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 18-08-37
Cruising nicely past the castles of Kingswear and Dartmouth the Fridtjof Nansen sets off from Dartmouth for Portsmouth.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

16 March 2020 - 18-35-16
This may be the last we see of Fridtjof Nansen, departing from Dartmouth heading for Portsmouth. The Norwegian cruise ship was due back but that is now cancelled. Sooner or later it'll set off for South America - the ship's main area of operation.
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Cruise ship Fridtjof Nansen visits Dartmouth

17 March 2020 - 09-24-01
University squadron river patrol vessel HMS Puncher has been in and out a few times this week. Frequently joined by.........
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Archer class HMS Ranger

17 March 2020 - 09-25-01
University squadron river patrol vessel HMS Ranger. Which is itself being chased by a college picket boat.
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Archer class HMS Ranger

17 March 2020 - 11-41-52
Right on time, the RDYC pontoon returns from its winter break in Waterhead Creek.
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RDYC pontoon

17 March 2020 - 11-44-02
Assuming you wanted to know....
2019 - 15th March 2018 - 26th March
2017 - 20th March 2016 - 16th March
2015 - 26th March 2014 - 24th March
2013 - 19th March 2012 - 29th March
2011 - 15th March 2010 - 23rd March

17 March 2020 - 11-52-45
The dinghy park etc usually arrive in the following days. Unless they are self-isolating of course. And heck, am I fed up with that joke already.
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RDYC pontoon

17 March 2020 - 15-21-21
The Devon Air Ambulance (G-DAAN) approaches Coronation Park in Dartmouth.
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Devon Air ambulance lands in Dartmouth

17 March 2020 - 15-21-24
G-DAAN circled the town a few times before making its approach from the river.
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Devon Air ambulance lands in Dartmouth

17 March 2020 - 15-21-27
It looks cramped, but the park has more than enough room for G-Daan to land.
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Devon Air ambulance lands in Dartmouth

17 March 2020 - 16-41-55
An hour and twenty minutes later the Devon Air Ambulance crew took off hrom Coronation Park and headed for Plymouth.
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Devon Air ambulance takes off from Dartmouth

17 March 2020 - 16-42-03
The Devon Air Ambulance is a much needed excellent service in this county. Financed by public donations
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Devon Air ambulance takes off from Dartmouth

17 March 2020 - 16-42-19
The helicopter is an Eurocopter EC135 P2+.
Registration number G-DAAN.
One suspects that there is a passenger aboard who is thinking of it more as a magic carpet.
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Devon Air ambulance takes off from Dartmouth

18 March 2020 - 15-38-55
That perpetual banging noise the you can hear in Dartmouth is coming from the pile-driving operation up at Noss-on-Dart. New stanchions for the new pontoon jetties.
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Construction work at Noss-on-Dart

19 March 2020 - 08-41-59
A Convoi Exceptionnel indeed. An astonishingly long trailer was behind this tractor unit. Carrying an rather exceptionnel (oh okay then, exceptional) craft called Lexi. Read on a couple of pix.....
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

19 March 2020 - 08-47-29
Ron and Mike out for their weekly constitutional.
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Kayaks on the river Dart

19 March 2020 - 08-49-16
Back to the Convoi Exceptionnel as it makes a 180 degree turn in the banjo. (The banjo is a turning circle in Kingswear shaped like a....lute.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

19 March 2020 - 08-49-36
Skilful stuff from the driver of Convoi Exceptionnel. Lexi, the Princess r35 powerboat is soon to be delivered to Darthaven marina. Read on.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

19 March 2020 - 09-42-04
University squadron river patrol vessels HMS Ranger (P293) and HMS Puncher (P291) head out of Dartmouth.
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Royal Navy River Patrol Archer class vessels.

19 March 2020 - 10-05-39
A progress report on the (slightly large) extension being built at Foxholes on the Kingswear shoreline. The roof is starting to go on.
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Kingswear building construction.

19 March 2020 - 10-07-13
Getting ever closer to the water. Lexi superheat (a Princess R35) is carried in the Darthaven cradle.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

19 March 2020 - 11-10-49
No tourists. So........
Most of the Riverlink ferries are tied up including Dart Venturer with 'headlights' on. (why ?) Plus Cardiff Castle, Dart Explorer, Dartmouth Castle and Kingswear Princess (back left)
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Dartmouth Riverboat Company ferries

20 March 2020 - 18-42-14
Early evening, but the extra lights in Kingswear are beginning to show. Some people think otherwise, but seems sensible to me. It is far easier to isolate down here.
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Kingswear general view at night

21 March 2020 - 12-57-05
The swell appeared to be much more of a swell than this photo shows. Still, a snap of Kingswear Castle is always appreciated by someone.
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21 March 2020 - 19-28-10
Night by night the population of Kingswear is growing.
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Kingswear general view

22 March 2020 - 10-32-42
Loads of Navy picket Boat manoeuvres this week.
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22 March 2020 - 12-28-58
Blazer, Exploit, Smiter arrive in Dartmouth.
That's HMS Blazer (P279),HMS Exploit (P167) & HMS Smiter (P272) to you
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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter

22 March 2020 - 14-41-15
Sitting pretty on the town jetty: University Squadron Archer class river patrol vessels. L-R: HMS Blazer (P279), HMS Exploit (P167) HMS Smiter (P272)
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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter

22 March 2020 - 23-55-48
And at night....University Squadron Archer class river patrol vessels. L-R: HMS Blazer (P279), HMS Exploit (P167) HMS Smiter (P272)
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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter

22 March 2020 - 23-58-19
Still experimentingg with my new camera (a Nikon D7200. Seems slightly better than the D7100 in low light. Here's a still life from Darthaven marina at midnight.
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Darthaven marina

23 March 2020 - 07-03-10
In the morning the crew of HMS Blazer went looking for fuel. We've all gone to the wrong pump at some stage or other......
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Archer class: HMS Blazer

23 March 2020 - 07-04-38
So they had to reverse back for the unleaded premium pump.
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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter

23 March 2020 - 07-43-19
Which, in this case came in it's very own tanker. (and yes I know this is HMS Exploit, they all took turns to top up. Imagine saying that to the petrol pump attendant "fill 'er up".
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Archer class: HMS Exploit

23 March 2020 - 07-44-14
Eventually, once replenished, they returned to the town jetty.
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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter

23 March 2020 - 10-54-34
Building work is continuing over in Kingswear at Mayflower Waters. More digging out. Are those diggers digging themselves into a corner ?
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Kingswear construction

23 March 2020 - 14-11-33
The RDYC trot moorings are being strung up.
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Reinstating Kingswear moorings

23 March 2020 - 14-22-55
Passing trade: Maersk Montana container ship heading for Charleston, South Carolina from Bremethaven in Germany. All 292 metres of it.
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Cargo ship Maersk Montana passes Dartmouth

24 March 2020 - 06-54-31
A more than slightly over-processed sunrise over the Daymark. By over-processed I mean a software induced compacting of the dynamic range. ie falsified. I really shouldn't do it. It looks awful.
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Sunrise over Daymark

24 March 2020 - 07-16-34
University Squadron Archer class river patrol vessels. In order from the rear; HMS Smiter (P272), HMS Exploit (P167) & HMS Blazer (P279) set off in a warm sunrise.
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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter

24 March 2020 - 07-18-23
Or, from the front: HMS Blazer (P279), HMS Exploit (P167) & HMS Smiter (P272)
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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter

24 March 2020 - 08-31-56
Social distancing. Dartmouth style.
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Paddle boarding river Dart

24 March 2020 - 08-32-34
Two paddle boarders social distancing and self-isolating in the middle of the river Dart.
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Paddle boarding river Dart

24 March 2020 - 09-03-13
That sleek grey boat on the far side of the centre pontoon - that's Lexi, the new star of the river. A Princess R45 sports boat.

Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

24 March 2020 - 11-15-20
Cobham refuelling training jet G-FRAU. This was the only plane I saw flyover today (during coronavirus lockdown).
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Cobham refuelling trainer

24 March 2020 - 11-47-12
Finally I got to see Lexi, the new Princess R35 sports boat out in the river.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

24 March 2020 - 11-50-18
.....and here is Lexi moving right.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

24 March 2020 - 11-55-00
Lexi heading out for a blast.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

24 March 2020 - 11-55-14
For some reason the engine sound got that much louder once Lexi (the Princess R35 sports boat) was out of view.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

24 March 2020 - 12-03-43
More social distancing. As I think we might call paddle boarding from now on.
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Paddle boarding river Dart

24 March 2020 - 12-05-32
Lexi, the new Princess R35 comes back in to the river. Might they have tried to 'see what she can do" out in open water. Top speed is a claimed 50 knots.
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi

24 March 2020 - 12-08-44
The Princess R35 is actually the smallest boat from Princess yachts Plymouth shipyard..
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi

24 March 2020 - 12-09-44
Designed with the help of Ben Ainslie Racing and Pinifarina and made entirely from carbon fibre it has what they call an active foil system to keep it steady. There, is that enough hard sell ?
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Princess sports boat R35 Lexi

24 March 2020 - 12-12-21
There is an element of guilt about being confined to quarters in this rather exceptional place. Dartmouth in Devon in case you didn't know.
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Kingswear general view

25 March 2020 - 07-06-59
Mist and sun, mist and sun. I say it timed time again....they make the best pictures.
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Mist and sunrise over the river Dart

25 March 2020 - 07-08-45
Time check on the BRNC clock (still without its Mayflower weathervane). It's 7.08 and 45 seconds in the morning. Precisely.
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Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth

25 March 2020 - 07-10-56
Not absolutely one of the very best sun and mist mornings. But up there.
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Mist and sunrise over the river Dart

25 March 2020 - 07-12-12
Use the Daymark for reference. It's in there somewhere this beautiful Dartmouth sunrise morning.
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Mist and sunrise over the river Dart

25 March 2020 - 07-20-45
Coronavirus or no coronavirus. some of the fishing boats are still hiding out for supplies.
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Mist and sunrise over the river Dart

25 March 2020 - 07-21-44
Beautiful to view from Dartmouth but probably pretty dull if you were underneath the mist in Kingswear. Still, it didn't last all that long.
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Mist and sunrise over the river Dart

25 March 2020 - 07-57-44
All six picket boats from BRNC were out this morning as they have been most of the week. All very gentle, not much shouting.
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BRNC Royal Navy picket boats

25 March 2020 - 07-59-06
It was an early morning follow-my-leader run. Out to the castles and back again. Avoiding the parked up fishing boat.
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BRNC Royal Navy picket boats

25 March 2020 - 08-19-03
A rather nice cat crept into town.
It's a Saona 47 made by Fountaine Pajot, called Aila.
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Fountaine Pajot, Saona 47 catamaran Aila

25 March 2020 - 08-19-11
Only one crew visible, and listed as Aila from Key West, Florida.
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Fountaine Pajot, Saona 47 catamaran Aila

25 March 2020 - 08-20-20
Unusual cockpit arrangement for Ail from Key West.
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Fountaine Pajot, Saona 47 catamaran Aila

25 March 2020 - 08-21-13
So the question is, did Aila from Key West, Florida (USA) really sail across from Key West, Florida ?
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Fountaine Pajot, Saona 47 catamaran Aila

25 March 2020 - 12-48-29
This is a big Beluga, or to give it its full name: A330-743L Beluga XL (reg no. F-GXLH). It's the bigger version of the ordinary Beluga. Not that there is anything ordinary about any Beluga.
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Airbus Beluga XL

25 March 2020 - 12-48-44
So Beluga XL F-GXLH is on its way from Toulouse to Broughton is Wales, where it will become a bi-plane. Well, it will gain two more wings. These it will carry in its hold back to Airbus, France to complete the A350 jets they are building.
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Airbus Beluga XL

25 March 2020 - 14-40-53
My favourite pic of the week. An Openreach engineer still working Above Town, Dartmouth (not necessarily overjoyed about it, but working nonetheless. Good for him).
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British Telecom engineer. Above Town.

25 March 2020 - 08-34-55
The first boat on the RDYC trot moorings......Lexi the rather elegant Princess R35 power boat.
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Princess R35 power boat, Lexi

25 March 2020 - 15-33-06
a surprise fly through from Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter (ZZ525).
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Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter (ZZ525)

25 March 2020 - 15-33-06 (1)
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter (ZZ525). Came from the river mouth and travelled upriver.
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Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter (ZZ525)

26 March 2020 - 08-02-52
There was a frost this morning and the early sun just caught these daffodils over in a garden above the Hoodown railway shed.
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River Dart gardens

26 March 2020 - 08-33-13
Fishing boat MFV Harvester out of Padstow trawling off Dartmouth.
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Fishing boat MFV Harvester

26 March 2020 - 11-03-24
High flying Royal Navy Merlin - I think its number was ZH842 if that's important to you.
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Royal Navy Merlin helicopter ZH842

24 March 2020 - 11-49-49
Lexi seemed rather good at moving sideways to a mooring. This is her moving left....

Princess sports boat R35 Lexi inDartmouth

26 March 2020 - 11-05-25
Funand games and shouting out on the river by the cadets in training.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 15-51-11
An occasional visitor, the Electricity company helicopter checking the power lines for faults. It first came into view after travelling down Weeke Hill valley and over Gallants Bower.
------------Electricity helicopter G-WPDD over Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 15-54-45
And then G-WPDD, the Electricity helicopter suddenly appeared over head and very. ver low.
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Electricity helicopter G-WPDD over Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 15-54-53
This is just about full frame on my Nikon.
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Electricity helicopter G-WPDD over Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 15-54-57
Had his watch been visible I could have read the time on the co-pilot of G-WPDD's watch.
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Electricity helicopter G-WPDD over Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-16-01
The fun and games (war-games) on the river reached a peak on Thursday afternoon with the mock assault on a navy craft. Here you see the 'villains' with one of their number pretending to be ill and needing assistance.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-17-46
The picket boat crew were quite rightly suspicious.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-18-52
And then mister sicken suddenly sprang to life and jumped aboard the picket boat.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-19-18
Guns were raised - one of them even a real gun. As the BRNC cadets continue their leadership training.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-20-57
The two other bad guys sped off - that's a powerful engine for a little boat.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-20-42
You do need to note the weapons in use here. A fully automatic self loading paddle. And an Uzi-Oar.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-20-36
But mr bad guy, now on board the picket boat is protesting his innocence. It was probably a bit harder once he was facing the real rifle.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-19-52
Still it gave some time for a bit of high speed fun.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

26 March 2020 - 17-19-39
Some zigs and some zags. And some rings around.
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Royal Navy BRNC cadets Leadership training on river Dart in Dartmouth

27 March 2020 - 12-37-32
Not a cloud in the sky over Kingswear. A glorious day in self-isolation.
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Kingswear general view.

27 March 2020 - 17-03-21
Vehicle carrier Primrose Ace (199.99m) travelling from Antwerp to Koper in Slovenia.
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Cargo ship Primrose Ace.

28 March 2020 - 00-10-48
Dartmouth based trawler William Henry II departs Dartmouth with the aid of its powerful floodlights
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Trawler William Henry II DH5

28 March 2020 - 00-11-23
As the trawler William Henry II departs Dartmouth soon after midnight the crew spy their preferred craft....the Princess R35 sports boat Lexi.
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Dartmouth trawler William Henry II, DH5
Princess R35 sports boat Lexi.

28 March 2020 - 00-11-32
William Henry II searchlight does some pretty powerful illuminating. Here's the shoreline trees in front of the Gunfield getting the white light treatment.
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The former Gunfield Hotel, Dartmouth

28 March 2020 - 11-17-04
Spotted this and assumed that the Higher Ferry was out of action. Clearly a temporary hitch, twenty minutes later all was well.
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Dartmouth Higher Ferry

28 March 2020 - 15-17-51
Container ship Maersk Iowa, all 292.08 metres of her. She departed from Bremerhaven but with 'destination unknown". I hope the captain knows.
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Container ship Maersk Iowa passes Dartmouth, Devon

28 March 2020 - 20-45-18
I think we now have a full house in Kingswear. As it should be.
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Kingswear, Devon at night

29 March 2020 - 13-15-58
A beautiful sunny Sunday in late March.
With an empty river.
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Quiet river Dart, Dartmouth, Devon coronavirus

30 March 2020 - 08-31-48
There's absolutely minimal activity on the river.
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Quiet river Dart. Dartmouth, Devon

30 March 2020 - 12-42-30
Beautiful skies, if a bit windy and that wind has a chill in it. But Kingswear is looking good.
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Kingswear in the sun, general view.

30 March 2020 - 13-25-20
Royal Navy Merlin helicopter ZJ134 of Commando 845 squadron
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Navy Merlin helicopter over Dartmouth

30 March 2020 - 14-56-53
Royal Navy Merlin helicopter passing over Kingswear. (possibly ZJ134?)
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Kingswear flyover of Navy Merlin helicopter

31 March 2020 - 11-35-28
The work continues at Mayflower Waters. Everyone keeping their distance.
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Kingswear construction continues despite coronavirus.

31 March 2020 - 15-26-52
British Army Wildcat ZZ384. Flying over the Navy college at Dartmouth.
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British Army Wildcat helicopter

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Archer class: HMS Blazer, HMS Exploit HMS Smiter