Broadside starts festival with a bang

A BOOMING burst of cannon fire rang out from HMS Victory today to start the International Festival of the Sea off with a bang.

The awesome sound of 22 guns firing from Nelson's flagship rang out at 11am �?the first time she has let off a full broadside since the last fleet review in 1977.
The cannons had all fired within eight seconds �?the length of time it took Victory to unleash her guns as she engaged the French at the Battle of Trafalgar 200 years ago.
Battle recreation expert Sean Canning ignited small charges of gunpowder in each weapon shaft to replicate the sound of cannonballs firing.
Hordes of people queued at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard today as the gates opened. An incredible 12,000 visitors went through the gates in the first hour.