A boost on the river

With blazing sunshine today, it was a pleasure to spend a couple of hours by the picturesque Beaulieu river in Hampshire.
Its estuary is in the  centre of the famous sailing waters of the Solent, directly across the shipping channel from the yachting mecca of Cowes
Yet on the river itself, there was an air of tranquility. It’s a yachtsman’s paradise in its own right, and once played an important role in Britain’s naval resources.
This spot provides a pontoon and moorings for boats visiting the Royal Southampton Yacht Club’s Gins clubhouse — the club is the only royal yacht club on the south coast to have the luxury of two clubhouses in the Solent region.
But just up river from here is the tiny hamlet of Bucklers Hard, with its own boatyard, hotel and picture postcard tourist village. Yet back in the 18th century it was a significant centre for shipbuilding and wooden warships were built here for Nelson.
Yet in reality it is only a short river, running for just 12 miles through the New Forest, and only four miles of it are tidal and navigable for small craft. It is also unique in that the entire river is privately owned by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and ownership has been in the Montagu family since 1724.
Today there was merely occasional passing craft which scarcely disturbed the tranquility, either visiting the Yacht Club or heading to or from Bucklers Hard.
Most activity was on the tidal stretch of river by the Yacht Club itself where club cadets, youngsters were participating and enjoying the second day of a two-day dinghy sailing course, under the guidance of Royal Yachting Association qualified dinghy instructors.
Today they were visited by the Commodore with news of the commissioning of five additional dinghies through the generosity of club members and giving a boost to dinghy sailing on the river.