The old passenger steamers used to go into Ramsey but the place would need major surgery before something like a Seacat could go in there. Since I stay in Ramsey that would suit me very well!

You're right that it's scandalous that we have to pay for something we can't plan for and that the pricing isn't put in the public domain. I'd say the say same for hotel accomodation, most of whom have a 'TT Tarriff', which isn't published in any tourist guide.

Regardless of what efforts are being made to 'improve' the racing, the cost of travel and accomodation is fast making the whole thing unaffordable - particularly for those of us that support the event for the whole fortnight. My brother suggested that the Tourist Board might consider some sort of price break for those doing the whole fortnight to encourage people to come for longer but what do you think the chances of that are?

People are being forced to come for just a few days because of the cost, which forces hoteliers, publicans, shops etc to try and make in three days what they used to make in a fortnight. You have a vicious circle. it also impacts heavily on the number of marshalls available for practice week.

The current demographic where people come at the end of practice week and begger off at the start of race week will not sustain the TT and it's time someone realised that!

Sorry to rant - but I needed to get that out of my system!