Thousands will get up close to navy's newest addition...
Bumper crowds will get a close-up look at the navy's newest ship this weekend.
Up to 6,000 people are expected to see HMS Daring at the Royal Navy Past and Present event on Saturday and Sunday.
The naval base and historic dockyard are running a scaled-down version of last year's Meet Your Navy, which drew more than 40,000 people. And the star of this show will be the Type 45 destroyer, which visitors will see for the first time since she arrived in January.
Captain Paddy McAlpine, who has been in charge of the ship for two months, said: 'We're looking forward to taking part in this weekend's event and we hope there will be a good turn-out. HMS Daring is an exciting ship with great capability. Sshe represents the navy's future.'
Tours of Daring will take visitors from the flight deck at the stern of the ship through the hangar and forward into the Operations Room. There will be films playing and display boards explaining the gadgetry of the first ship of her class.
Entry to the historic dockyard and Daring on Saturday and Sunday is free, but visitors will have to pay for the usual museum attractions.
Dockyard Managing Director Robert Bruce said: 'We had such a great time with Meet Your Navy and we're hoping that this event will attract people too.
'We are expecting close to 6,000 over the weekend, which is double what we would normally get at this time of year.'
As well as the tour of the ship there will be Tudor music displays and sunset performances from the Royal Marines' Band.
At several points during the weekend Geoff Pye will read an account of the shipwreck of the Mary Rose, which sank 464 years ago.
And it is one of the last weekends for visitors to see the warship wreck before she is hidden from view for the new museum construction.
Mr Bruce said: 'There is a lot on offerand we're confident people will make the most of it.'
WHAT'S ON
10am: HMS Daring open to the public
10.30am: Model tank display, Tudor musicians, Morris dancing and coin-striking begin.
11am: Physical training display team
11.30am: Model boat display
2pm: Steam Pinnace boat display, Royal Naval Museum reserve collection of model boats opens. On Sunday telling of 'A Survivor's Tale' by Geoff Pye to mark the 464th Anniversary of the sinking of the Mary Rose.
12.30pm: Royal Marines Band performance
1pm: Model Boat Display
1.30pm: 'A Survivor's Tale' by Geoff Pye (Sunday)
2pm: Physical training display team
2.30pm: Model boat display, telling of 'A Survivor's Tale' (Sunday)
3.30pm: Model boat display, telling of 'A Survivor's Tale' (Sunday)
4pm: Last entry to HMS Daring
4.30pm: Ceremonial Sunset Ceremony Royal Marines Band, model tank display
5.30pm: Model boat exhibition closes
6pm Dockyard closes
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
