A selection of models and events that have been photographed on the pond, past & present.
These images are best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer screen.
To view a larger version of an image, right-click on it and select 'open image in new tab'.
Every so often, new photos will be added to this gallery - so check-in once in a while!
SS Forward.
Another shot of Ronnie Milton's incredibly realistic Victorian era steam cargo vessel.
Another Caldeonian MacBrayne ferry, this time the MV Keppel (1961), a vessel that older Largs residents may well remember.
For twenty years from 1967 she had the Largs - Cumbrae route until she was replaced on that crossing by the new ro-ro ferries MV Loch Striven, MV Loch Linnhe and MV Loch Riddon. However, she served another seven years as a cruise vessel before being employed by new Maltese owners for cruises out of Valetta and in fact still remains in service there, enjoying her late years in the sunny Eastern Mediterranean for Hornblower Cruises and still retaining her original name.
Another glorious Clyde coaster, this time the SS Raylight by David Wright.
HMS Iveston (M1151) is Brendan Bocker's.
A Ton-class RN minesweeper, launched in 1954 in Dartmouth, she is the last Royal Navy vessel aboard which a mutiny took place. Five of the crew were tried by court martial at Rosyth and convicted. The group were sentenced to detention for terms ranging from 12 to 21 months, and dismissed from the Royal Navy "with disgrace". One of the ratings was convicted of an additional charge of striking a superior officer.
A port side profile of Brendan's HMS Iveston.
Another minsweeper - one would think Aubery pond is littered with sea mines!
This is Hunt-class minesweeper HMS Quorn. She was launched on 23 January 1988, as the last ship of her class.
From May 2011 to September 2014, Quorn was deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the Royal Navy's permanent presence in the region. Based in Bahrain, Quorn's crew changed every eight months enabling the ship to remain on station for a prolonged period without the costs associated with returning to the United Kingdom. During the deployment, Quorn was "twinned" with American minehunter USS Devastator. Quorn spent the late spring and summer of 2015 on deployment in northern European waters, including the Baltic Sea as part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1). During the deployment, she took part in Exercise Joint Warrior off Scotland, BALTOPS 2015 alongside HM Ships Iron Duke and Ocean and Kiel Week before returning to Portsmouth in July.
After spending a period alongside in extended readiness, Quorn was lifted out of the water into the "Minor War Vessels Centre of Specialisation"; the former shipbuilding hall at HMNB Portsmouth in December 2016. However, in October 2017 it was revealed that her planned refit would not take place, and Quorn would be decommissioned on 14 December 2017
While we're on the subject of Royal Navy ships, here's a shot of Ian Johnson's vessel to which he appended the name 'Sentinel'.
Across the pond (so to speak)...
... to the US Navy, yes that Navy that inherited the Royal Navy's previous status as 'ruler of the waves' (sigh). This is Ray Istead's impressive USS Oscar Austin. She is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and the 29th of her class.
USS Oscar Austin is the first ship of the Flight IIA subclass of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Compared to previous Burkes, Flight IIAs are 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m) longer, displace about 900 tons more, carry six more Vertical Launching System cells, and have a hangar that can house two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. To prevent the additional superstructure aft from fouling radar returns, the rear-facing SPY-1D panels are one deck higher. She is one of two Flight IIA ships using the older 5-inch/54 caliber naval gun, the other being USS Roosevelt (DDG-80), which cannot use certain advanced munitions that require the longer 5 in/62 caliber gun mounted on succeeding ships of the class like the USS Winston S. Churchill.
A relaxing afternoon by the pond, with a variety of different models on display.
Two very similar vessels, the MS Conserver to your left, and the Blue Toon pilot boat to it's port side.
Ringer Netter Beauty.
The 'Tarbert'.
Resting at a portion of Port Aubery's harbour.
Resplendent in their bright yellow and red sails are these two stunning schooners.
Hugh Blair's delectable yacht the Lady Pierce glides gracefully through the pond.
Something almost historical, from way back in the halcyon days of 2005, is this colourful image of some of the members intricate and majestic looking sailing vessels, on display at our Aubery Park.