"We wish to state categorically that this publication is not in any way connected with the official SeaBritain 2005 initiative, the National Maritime Museum or VisitBritain, " said the museum.

The views and opinions expressed in the publication in no way represent those of the SeaBritain 2005 initiative and SeaBritain 2005 will not be promoting this publication.

In the meantime, it transpires the official re-enactment of the Trafalgar battle next month has been hit by the politically correct lobby.

Instead of the British and the French/Spanish going head to head again as they did in 1805, it has been decided this might upset the French. So the reenactment will be between a Red Fleet and a Blue Fleet.

A spokesman for the Royal Navy said: "This is an illustration and theatre on the water. Nelson is featured, but we are not billing it as Britain versus France."

This will not be a Frenchbashing opportunity, the spokesman insisted. See Portsmouth Poll, page 26, for an alternative view.

The re-enactment will be staged on Tuesday June 28, the day of the Fleet Review, on Southsea Common.

For information on the security restrictions being applied to commercial and recreational craft over the Fleet Review period, go to www.qhmportsmouth.com/index.php?previous=27&art=136 The main SeaBritain website has links to the full programme of events throughout the year - go to www.seabritain2005.com/server.php?show=nav.00400s