From Graham Lascelles, Wootton:

Give someone a comfortable chair and what will they do?

I was somewhat perturbed by the picture showing two Wightlink captains seated in their armchairs, while driving their new ferry, Victoria of Wight (CP, 15-06-18).

They seem to be surrounded by technology. Yet, the most sophisticated equipment on the bridge, by an order of magnitude, is the human eyeball.

What exactly can they see from their comfortable perch?

Can they see an approaching windsurfer, someone fishing from a canoe, a dinghy or indeed anything closer than 500 metres or wherever their line of sight meets the horizon?

They will say everything is approved by the Marine and Coastguard Agency.

Well, I am sorry to report that as in the words of Shania Twain: “That don’t impress me much.”

A few years ago Wightlink was officially “reminded” by the Queen’s Harbourmaster Portsmouth to obey the Rule of the Road after a close quarters incident with my boat.

You can’t even do that if you can’t see the other vessel.

I never did get an apology.

I understand they do a difficult job in a crowded Solent which, when driving a ferry is, in my humble opinion, no place for sitting down on the job.

I sincerely wish them well, but what goes around, comes around guys.