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Open Course on the I.O.W On reaching Portsmouth with the temperature increasing every minute and the sky a clear aqua blue the air and serenity was only interrupted by the ever present sea gulls looking for a quick meal. As I looked across the bay in the distance I could see, HMS Victory the world's oldest commissioned warship. Still manned by Officers and Ratings of the Royal Navy, the Victory has seen over 220 years of almost continuous naval service. Best known for her role in the Battle of Trafalgar, the Victory currently has a dual role as the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and as a living museum to the Georgian navy. Launched in 1765 at Chatham Dockyard, the Victory was commissioned in 1778 and continued in active service for the next 32 years. In 1812 the Victory was retired from frontline duty and anchored in Portsmouth Harbour on the south coast of England. For the next 110 years the Victory remained at her moorings in Portsmouth Harbour fulfilling a combination of practical and ceremonial roles.In 1922, amid fears for her continued survival, the Victory was moved into Portsmouth's Royal Naval Dockyard and placed in No2 Dry Dock. Work then began on restoring the Victory to her 'fighting' 1805 condition.Open to the public all year round, HMS Victory allows the visitor to explore the world of the Georgian navy, experiencing both the ship herself and the lives of the men who lived within her 'wooden world'. I however have embarked on the ferryboat to get me to my destination, the crossing was like a mill pond, people jockeying for the best view, some just wanting to sit and sip tea.I was met by Sensei Mark Elliott 5^th Dan, who is the chief instructor of Shotokan on the I.O.W and a regular attendee of Sensei Higaonna's Gasshuku's in Europe, this is the 18^th year I have been invited to teach for him on the island.We reached the Dojo where the children were eagerly awaiting I would say about 30 were in attendance not bad considering the heat. On entering the Dojo the humidity was apparent but after an hour the children faces were gleaming with happiness. It was time for the seniors next, to my surprise the Dojo was full again at least 30 people.Because of the heat I kept the training educational instead of physical, everyone seemed to enjoy the close quarter disciplines that we went through. My thanks to Sensei Mark for his continuous support George Andrews.
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