Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2008 | Page 27

FEATURE
at the ship’s refuelling point,
a tricky operation in bad
weather.
“Before the engines were
converted from steam to
diesel, it took 21 seconds
before she responded,” he says,
remembering the time the ship
was caught in a 70 mile wind
while leaving Southampton
Dock. The QE2 has nine main
engines named Alpha, Bravo,
Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot,
Golf, Hotel and India and she
can travel faster backwards
than most cruise liners can
travel forwards; at full speed
the ship will continue to move
six cables before it stops.
Danny, who started his sea
career on the training ship
‘Worcester’ and later as a cadet
with the Union Castle Line,
retired in 1996 after 29 years
on the pilot boats to enjoy
life in Wootto