Ocean Village

Another beautiful day and Ocean Village looked like the Med this afternoon!

I've enjoyed photographing this major marina development in Southampton for years, in the days of slide film in the late 80s to the last time, back in December. Then, it was cold and with the sun trying to break through.

Situated just off the River Itchen (see the new Itchen Bridge on far right hand-side) this marina has been home to the launch to the Global Challenge in 1992, '96 and 2000, as well as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 2011. It has 375 berths and with many small, second-hand craft selling for the cost of most people's own homes (c £1/4m) - and many more bigger and costlier, Ocean Village certainly is a rich man's playground.

Since December, a lot of extra building work litters both the pedestrianised areas as well as the sky, as you can see from the cranes here. From some angles, it looks kind of cute and nice but now and in the future I think it will have lost its character somewhat.

For this image, I had walked all the way round the southern edge, all new housing and apartments, snapping many pics. The main recreational area, with bars and restaurants is directly ahead, in the distance. I particularly liked this wooden, tall-ship type of boat that is at the marina's entrance and when the elegant white vessel left to reach open waters and the Solent, I knew that I had my shot.

Well worth looking in LARGE

Hope everyone had a super great weekend!