Gotta Love a Rivalry!

Good morning my fellow Rotarians.  You know it is no secret of the rivalry that has gone on for centuries between the British and Irish.  Here is an example of an encounter that made me laugh…   

This is the transcript of the actual radio conversation from naval communications between the British and the Irish off the coast of Kerry in October of 1998.  This radio conversation was released by the Chief of British Naval Operations in October of 2008, 10 years following this incident.

IRISH:  Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

BRITISH:  Recommend that you divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

IRISH:  Negative, you will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

BRITISH:  This is the Captain of a British navy ship, I say again, divert YOUR course.

IRISH:  Negative, I say again, you will have to divert YOUR course.

BRITISH:  This is the aircraft carrier HMS Britiannial, the second largest ship in the British Atlantic fleet.  We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels.  I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north, I say again that is 15 degrees north, or counter measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

IRISH:  We are a lighthouse.  Your call.

Hmmm, love a rivalry!  And this is the bottom of the news on this Friday January 27, 2012.

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