Something 'exciting' happening on the Solent?

[Stemar]

A military exercise, which appears to be simulating the hijacking of a cross-Solent ferry

I wish they'd hijack the cross-Medina ferry...

 

[cherod]

You never know. While the helicopters are playing with the ferry and attracting everyone's attention, the secret exercise may be happening elsewhere ...

too much James Bond

 

[AntarcticPilot]

probably stopping stowaways escaping from the OfW?

According to friends from Hampshire, the residents of the IoW are too inbred to think of escaping.

 

[Lightwave395]

According to friends from Hampshire, the residents of the IoW are too inbred to think of escaping.

That's a bit rich coming from someone in SW Norfolk...!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

That's a bit rich coming from someone in SW Norfolk...!

Born and bred in Yorkshire! And I live in Cambridgeshire; we make jokes about Norfolk, too (NFN?)

 

[girlofwight]

They're practicing for us - we locals here have had a whip round and hired the SBS to keep the 'turkey and tinsel coach loads from the North Island away !

Can't believe (or I suppose I can) that there were coach tours here last week from Manchester and Blackburn, the useless council here were imploring everyone to come over a week or so ago and this week are begging them all to stay away (this is the same council responsible for Calamity Chain )

On the other hand those Turkey and Tinsel coaches bring valuable money into the Island, however odious they are.

 

[Lightwave395]

On the other hand those Turkey and Tinsel coaches bring valuable money into the Island, however odious they are.

Along with their Covid

 

[oldharry]

It's not unusual for ferries to take part in this sort of exercise. My nephew is a member of a local CG team in W Wales. They regularly exercise with both RNLI and the Irish Sea ferries for SAR drills.

 

[girlofwight]

Along with their Covid

But there was no bump in IW Covid levels this summer as tourists piled in and crowded every beach/pub/outdoor space.

It’s easy to blame the T&T brigade, but the schools seem to be the breeding ground at present.

 

[ashtead]

But there was no bump in IW Covid levels this summer as tourists piled in and crowded every beach/pub/outdoor space.

It’s easy to blame the T&T brigade, but the schools seem to be the breeding ground at present.

Clearly the risks of visiting yachtsman was a far greater than loads of coaches and the packed car ferries. The one thing they did right on the car ferries was let you stay in the vehicle during the crossing but then the mingling returned along with the unmasked children running riot.

 

[Lightwave395]

But there was no bump in IW Covid levels this summer as tourists piled in and crowded every beach/pub/outdoor space.

It’s easy to blame the T&T brigade, but the schools seem to be the breeding ground at present.

I agree with you as regards summer visitors and schools, my problem is with the recent half term period where we had the T & T brigade from tier 2/3 areas wandering aimlessly around Cowes Esplanade whilst crossing the solent many with their noses hanging over their masks.

 

[Daedelus]

I can see the drama unfolding now: hijackers seize control of the Cowes Southampton ferry, demanding that the captain go instead to Portsmouth! This is just a ploy, they really were setting off for Lymington.

 

[girlofwight]

I agree with you as regards summer visitors and schools, my problem is with the recent half term period where we had the T & T brigade from tier 2/3 areas wandering aimlessly around Cowes Esplanade whilst crossing the solent many with their noses hanging over their masks.

Well, yes, I’ve seen those on the ferries as well, fair point. On the first crossing I made post lockdown 1, a particularly unsavoury selection of tourists with no mask wearing skills, getting in a paddy because Wightlink wouldn’t heat their sausage roll.

OTOH I do some voluntary work at a island tourist venue, and most the time we were telling people from coaches they actually don’t need masks if they are outside and distanced - that said there seemed to be much confusion about what constitutes a bubble with clash parties.

Hopefully today’s news vaccine news means the beginning of the end; may be able to get a cup of coffee in Signature Lounge again.

 

[girlofwight]

Clearly the risks of visiting yachtsman was a far greater than loads of coaches and the packed car ferries. The one thing they did right on the car ferries was let you stay in the vehicle during the crossing but then the mingling returned along with the unmasked children running riot.

Agree, although it seems difficult to get to the bottom of whether this is uber cautions MCA, or ferry bosses wanting to sell refreshments. The option to stay in the car is missed, it just now - on a late night crossing some kip was always welcome.