Jubilee Flotilla

[VO5]

Seemed to be classic modern tv. No real attempt to cover all of it, loads of familiar faces - none of whom knew anything about the boats - the things which the event was based around.

Even the most basic cheat sheet would have made the presenters seem a bit less gormless - but that level of preparation seems to be alien to modern tv. Massive lost oppertunity to showcase Britians maritime heritage. Looks like we'll have to wait for the 'after market' dvds which surely someone is bound to put together?

Poor old Blighty...I suppose you will have to wait another 60 years for another chance....

Here in Gibraltar we are having a blast.

More than 100 boats joined in a flotilla round the Rock.

I counted more than 100.

65 of them were motorboats including harbour tugs hooting and fire tugs spraying and whatnot. The rest were sloops and ketches.

Then later more festivities.

It is a lovely sunny day, light breeze, not a cloud in the sky, perfect.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Poor old Blighty...I suppose you will have to wait another 60 years for another chance....

Here in Gibraltar we are having a blast.

More than 100 boats joined in a flotilla round the Rock.

I counted more than 100.

65 of them were motorboats including harbour tugs hooting and fire tugs spraying and whatnot. The rest were sloops and ketches.

Then later more festivities.

It is a lovely sunny day, light breeze, not a cloud in the sky, perfect.

Ah - shut up!

 

[ffiill]

Thought the whole thing was a bit shambolic-even the barge looked like a mock up of the standard you would expect of a 1980s episode of Doctor Who!
Commentators sounded like something from the Beeb 1920s vintage!-jolly good show etc.
A real rowed barge with an engine for emergency would have been really great!
And as for the tinpot Dictator dressage of the Royal Family apart from the Queen and Prince Philip!

 

[prv]

Thought the whole thing was a bit shambolic-even the barge looked like a mock up of the standard you would expect of a 1980s episode of Doctor Who!

Well, it was dressed up by a film-set designer

Unlike the Government and the Olympics, there was a concern from the Palace not to go overboard on cost. So the Royal Barge was actually a floating restaurant borrowed for the occasion, with a few temporary trappings added on top.

A real rowed barge with an engine for emergency would have been really great!

I was a bit confused by the purpose of Gloriana, the rowing barge at the front of the procession. I suspect she was originally built to carry the Queen, but at some point was deemed impractical (no space for discreet security arrangements? No loo?) and hence given her slightly odd role of carrying only a film crew at the front of the fleet.

Pete

 

[penfold]

I was a bit confused by the purpose of Gloriana, the rowing barge at the front of the procession. I suspect she was originally built to carry the Queen, but at some point was deemed impractical (no space for discreet security arrangements?)

That's easy enough to fix; just replace the rowers with volunteers from the Guards, and make sure they take their rifles with them!

 

[merlin3688]

This was how it should have been done...
http://www.sail-world.com/UK/index.cfm?SEID=0&Nid=97998&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0

 

[Penton Hooker]

Not a single sail to be seen in the flotilla.
And why haven't the BBC got a camera east of Tower Bridge where all the interesting boats are?
Not a single shot of the Pioneer or other lovely wooden boats, we sat and watched all day but were disappointed with the coverage.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18320076
Watch the above carefully and you will see a Drascombe Longboat with its sails up!

 

[merlin3688]

Found the Pioneer at the Jubilee at last – she's in the background of this shot and several others from this chap - http://www.flickr.com/photos/50780708@N02/7329843868/in/photostream/

 

[maxi77]

After the abject dissappointment of the BBCs coverage of the Thames stuff we hoped the concert tonight would be betterhat has been spoilt as the same drunken idiot is controlling the camera shots, rapid cuts all over the shop so you really see nothing but the archbishop of C who comes into shot every few minutes, one of the camera angles only shows you the Queens hat, so very poor

 

[TamarMike]

I was also intrigued to hear at least twice that HMS Belfast displaces 92,000 tons !

I think someone has been speed reading information about Belfast. She was built under the restrictions of the London Conference which limited Britain's cruiser construction programme to a TOTAL of 92,000 tons.

 

[TamarMike]

Charlotte of Sky, didn't even know what a twin screw (of the last twin screw steam tug) was!

I could put a comment about that!!

At least I saw a few Cornish flags, though not able to see the Barnabus or the pilot gig properly.

And.....one of the "national flags" on the Queens barge! How's about that!

At least Tom Cunliffe did specifically point out Barnabus, mentioning they had made a special short (mizzen) mast to suit the Thames air draft.

 

[SHUG]

Seven hours in an open boat without a loo. They deserve a medal.!!!!

 

[Penton Hooker]

Seven hours in an open boat without a loo. They deserve a medal.!!!!

Apparently a number of folk were lifted out of open boats by the RNLI and taken to hospital after showing symptoms of hypothermia. Rather more than seven hours so I understand, more like 14 from start to finish.

 

[KellysEye]

>Stephen Fry has apparently described the coverage as 'inane' and for once I agree with him.

I agree too. What I wanted to was see/hear was details about the Dunkirk little ships and they were barely mentioned. Dreadful coverage more concerned with interviewing celebrities than the boats.

I felt very sorry for the lady choir on top the the London Philharmonic boat in their dresses and pouring rain, they must have been freezing.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Has anyone been appointed/volunteered to interrogate Jeremy Vine on Points of View? I can't believe the lack of thought that went into that presentation.

If Tom Cunliffe was commentating, wasn't he invited to advise on the content?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Suggested by email to Tom Cunliffe that he might like to have a poke at the BBC on "Points of View".

Hi Tom. We've met a couple of times (MastaClimba) and I understand you had a finger in the Flotilla pie. The various yottie fora thought the BBC presentation was pathetic and I wonder if you would like to have a go at Jeremy Vine on Points of View? Somebody needs to!

His response;-
Ahoy Graham

Thanks for your email. Sorry not to respond earlier, but we've been at sea !!!

Your message re the BBC all copied. You are not alone. I'm inclined to think that any approach would come better from you and other like-minded sailors than from me. It would be nice if you could put in a good word for me.

All the best
Tom

Any volunteers? I would be happy to but I am light on what should have been shown. I can have a dig at the Scotch eggs and the WI but that is not what is needed.

 

[ADLS]

information

>Stephen Fry has apparently described the coverage as 'inane' and for once I agree with him.

I agree too. What I wanted to was see/hear was details about the Dunkirk little ships and they were barely mentioned. Dreadful coverage more concerned with interviewing celebrities than the boats.

I felt very sorry for the lady choir on top the the London Philharmonic boat in their dresses and pouring rain, they must have been freezing.

Each boat that took part submitted a history information sheet, so all the Beeb had to do was read it???????

Ex skipper Lazy Days ADLS.