STRANGE looks were flying in my direction as I casually strolled through the gates of the Southampton Boat Show.

I was a man on a mission, charged with seeking out the best bits the show had to offer.

And to get myself into the seafaring spirit, I had donned a set of bright orange oilskins and topped off the look with a navy blue sailor's hat.

Surely a salty seadog such as myself wouldn't look too out of place? After watching television presenters Fred Dinenage and Amanda Piper take on the wacky craze of hyrdrazorbing, it was straight to the show's main attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean movie ship HMS Bounty.

The impressive tall ship, better known on screen as The Edinburgh Trader, was the setting for one of the most infamous mutinies of all time.

And the ship's own Captain Bligh, joined by Pirates of the Caribbean star Jack Sparrow, were on hand to give visitors a lowdown on the ship's history.

After escaping Sparrow's attempts to pressgang me on to his crew, the next stop was the RYA stand to give their ever-popular Try a Boat scheme a go.

Fifteen minutes later I was holding onto my hat, blasting up and down Southampton Water in an Elite, a 25ft keelboat made by Chandler's Ford manufacturers RS.

Buzzing from the sail, it was time for the salty seadog to experience life under the seas at the Andark Try a Dive stand.

Andark give people the chance to experience the serenity of scuba-diving in the comfort of their specially made pool - and with full bookings most days it's certainly one of the hits of the show.

In the excitement of it all I forgot to take off my hat and I left the show slightly soggy but hugely content.

The boat show is renowned for being a great day out - and this year is no exception.

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