People suggesting return of RY Britannia.
Discussion
Here is one op ed piece from Willy Hague
"Scrapping the Royal Yacht Britannia was self-defeating, short-sighted Blairite point-scoring." Frankly that's hitting the nail on the head time. Basically it was, anybody who had been on it, either as guest or crew knew it had an aura.
Bring it back? Hmm really not so sure on this. Firstly in the age where billionaires have the most outrageous and fanciful yachts it would have to be something else.
Secondly part of the magic was the history, a new craft wouldn't have that, it would be just another gin palace extraordinaire, and by the time a new one was built Her Maj might no longer be on the throne and it would be Chazzer and Camilla, well, time for a Republic?
Refurb the old Britannia, well if you've ever been on the bridge of Britannia you'd know it would be a major major refit just to get a quarter of any necessary modern kit in there, never mind the rest of the accommodation and services. So that could have the history, but that's a dead duck imo.
So basically this is an idea that's past its time, so why? Just why?
Or maybe it's me that is missing the point, despite having a great deal of affection for the old girl.
"Scrapping the Royal Yacht Britannia was self-defeating, short-sighted Blairite point-scoring." Frankly that's hitting the nail on the head time. Basically it was, anybody who had been on it, either as guest or crew knew it had an aura.
Bring it back? Hmm really not so sure on this. Firstly in the age where billionaires have the most outrageous and fanciful yachts it would have to be something else.
Secondly part of the magic was the history, a new craft wouldn't have that, it would be just another gin palace extraordinaire, and by the time a new one was built Her Maj might no longer be on the throne and it would be Chazzer and Camilla, well, time for a Republic?
Refurb the old Britannia, well if you've ever been on the bridge of Britannia you'd know it would be a major major refit just to get a quarter of any necessary modern kit in there, never mind the rest of the accommodation and services. So that could have the history, but that's a dead duck imo.
So basically this is an idea that's past its time, so why? Just why?
Or maybe it's me that is missing the point, despite having a great deal of affection for the old girl.
GlenMH said:
Good luck with that as she will need completely refitting in the propulsion department. There are very very few steam trained people left in the RN. I know because I was one of the last and I left 16 years ago!
I wouldn't go drinking in pubs near naval dockyards then....I hear they're bringing back press-gangs as well.One minute you're stumbling down the road after 8 pints of Thruttocks Old Detestable, and the next thing you know, you wake up here....
...with a splitting headache and a piece of paper saying you've signed on for another 20 years.
What has to be remembered, is that describinbg the vessel as a "Yacht" is a bit of a misnomer. Basically because "Yacht" in many ways can be seen as "Pleasure vessel" .
What Brittania was, is basically a floating embassy. Furthering our interests across the world, replete with head of state!
So, how much good will and business did visits by Brittania make? I've a feelling an awful lot no doubt somebody somewhere would have such figures. Do we need to replace it? Personally , I'd be pleased if they did , but who knows, hss such a vehicle of diplomacy had its day?
What Brittania was, is basically a floating embassy. Furthering our interests across the world, replete with head of state!
So, how much good will and business did visits by Brittania make? I've a feelling an awful lot no doubt somebody somewhere would have such figures. Do we need to replace it? Personally , I'd be pleased if they did , but who knows, hss such a vehicle of diplomacy had its day?
I'm torn tbh, per OP thought the decision by Blair et al was a petty point scoring matter. So part of me thinks there is something that's worth having, but now it's gone, not sure.
Having said that those sort of shows can certainly make an impression. One of the bigger deals we ever closed was with Americans after a dinner on a Thames sailing barge. Some years back admittedly, but they were gob smacked when we pissed off London evening commuters by opening Tower Bridge so we could sail through whilst having cocktails, then did it all again on the return.
Having said that those sort of shows can certainly make an impression. One of the bigger deals we ever closed was with Americans after a dinner on a Thames sailing barge. Some years back admittedly, but they were gob smacked when we pissed off London evening commuters by opening Tower Bridge so we could sail through whilst having cocktails, then did it all again on the return.
Tryke3 said:
Pound is loosing its arse and our beloved mps want to spend few hundred millions on a boat so they can do less work and eat more caviar. Pathetic
Who gets impressed by boats anymore, is the answer zimbabwe ?
Jesus, what a whinger. Get some perspective and do a bit of research into currencies. Look at the US$ in 2007. Did the USA disappear up it's own arse when the $ tanked to near half it's current value? Who gets impressed by boats anymore, is the answer zimbabwe ?
FX changes all the time and a weak £ does not indicate a weak UK. It merely shows that the market is chosing to invest in other CURRENCY, not countries currency. This can be for MANY reasons, political, economic or just to make s
t loads of cash on the market itself. And whilst a weak £ may make your foreign holiday more pricey, it makes it cheaper for people to come to the UK to spend their money here and cheaper for us to export things. So it is not al bad just "different".
Tell me do you think Greece the most f
ked Eurozone / EU economy would not appreciate an opportunity to devalue its currency? Of course to do so or be allowed to it would have to pay back st loads of borrowed EU cash but they'd jump at the chance if it weren't for that. Get some perspective, man, FFS and stop worrying about things you will have forgotten about by the time we are out of the EU.
Do you really think an devalued £ just means a slightly more expensive holiday ? You sure its me who needs to get some perspective ? Like most of the country you are just regurgitating stuff you heard, with no idea what it actually means or what it actual implications are. All of sudden since april everyone is a slight expert in economics
If you look at the usa, their devaued $ is bringing Mr trump closer to pulling the nuclear trigger also it includes millions of middle classes who are much worse, poor people left homeless and the super rich only richer etc etc, surelly you know this and you thinking USA as an example was just a mistake ?
If you look at the usa, their devaued $ is bringing Mr trump closer to pulling the nuclear trigger also it includes millions of middle classes who are much worse, poor people left homeless and the super rich only richer etc etc, surelly you know this and you thinking USA as an example was just a mistake ?
Edited by Tryke3 on Wednesday 12th October 08:52
s3fella said:
Jesus, what a whinger. Get some perspective and do a bit of research into currencies. Look at the US$ in 2007. Did the USA disappear up it's own arse when the $ tanked to near half it's current value?
FX changes all the time and a weak £ does not indicate a weak UK. It merely shows that the market is chosing to invest in other CURRENCY, not countries currency. This can be for MANY reasons, political, economic or just to make st loads of cash on the market itself.
And whilst a weak £ may make your foreign holiday more pricey, it makes it cheaper for people to come to the UK to spend their money here and cheaper for us to export things. So it is not al bad just "different".
Tell me do you think Greece the most fked Eurozone / EU economy would not appreciate an opportunity to devalue its currency? Of course to do so or be allowed to it would have to pay back st loads of borrowed EU cash but they'd jump at the chance if it weren't for that.
Get some perspective, man, FFS and stop worrying about things you will have forgotten about by the time we are out of the EU.
The number of psuedo lefties running around complaining loudly ahout poor exchange rates and stock markets is very revealing of the "any old fact I dont understand will do" mindset.FX changes all the time and a weak £ does not indicate a weak UK. It merely shows that the market is chosing to invest in other CURRENCY, not countries currency. This can be for MANY reasons, political, economic or just to make s
t loads of cash on the market itself. And whilst a weak £ may make your foreign holiday more pricey, it makes it cheaper for people to come to the UK to spend their money here and cheaper for us to export things. So it is not al bad just "different".
Tell me do you think Greece the most f
ked Eurozone / EU economy would not appreciate an opportunity to devalue its currency? Of course to do so or be allowed to it would have to pay back st loads of borrowed EU cash but they'd jump at the chance if it weren't for that. Get some perspective, man, FFS and stop worrying about things you will have forgotten about by the time we are out of the EU.
As for the boat, if its worth so much to biz couldnt bae knock one up with the help of a few buddies? Make a few sister ships you can bang out for a markup to a few oligarks and shieks wanting the most posey thing "my yaught has a tennis court and 3 swimming pools" "oh such vulgarity is so 2016, we travel in a britannia class my dear, same as the queen of england."
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