‘The island already is looking really busy. I feel we’ve got more yachts coming in than we have over the past couple of years, and we’ve got Islands Unlimited, Alderney Ferry Services, Finistair and the Water Taxi – which are all helping,’ said Vicky Chandler, who heads the week’s organising team with her husband, Wayne. She said that the team had been braced for a packed island this week.
Alderney Ferry Services was fully booked for the week, and also worked alongside other small boat operators to ensure it brings as many passengers as possible to Alderney Week.
‘It’s a great week for our island,’ said company director Charlie Smith.
All Aurigny flights from Southampton to Alderney were sold out for the week, with only a smattering still available from Guernsey at the end of last week.
The airline’s chief operating officer, Phillip Saunders, said it had received confirmation from Skybus that it would deliver a reliable operation throughout.
‘We put a lot of extra flights on sale quite a while ago in preparation, which is something we do every year,’ he said.
‘We’re hopeful, as ever, that they will be operating without any difficulties. We’ve been working closely with Skybus to made sure that we have a reliable operation and Skybus has confirmed that it has the necessary resources and focus to deliver the Alderney Week flying schedule next week.
‘We’re looking very busy on both our Southampton and Guernsey routes, which is excellent because it’s an event that we’re always committed to supporting and we hope it’s going to be a wonderful week for all involved. It is the event above all others that helps support Alderney’s continued development as a visitor destination.’
The Chandlers have been leading the organising team for the island’s biggest, busiest attraction for the past five years.
‘When the week is over, we take about a month off and then start preparations for the next year,’ said Mrs Chandler.
‘Yes it’s stressful, but we have so much fun, and we wouldn’t know what we’d do with ourselves if we gave it up. It’s so important for the island. It brings a lot of tourists, and it’s really important for the community too – for the shops, the restaurants and just the residents. When we’re driving around picking up equipment, the local children recognise the van and wave excitedly at us.
‘It’s a real joy.’
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