January 3, 2024

Looking Great

Now that our 1970 MGB Roadster has come to the end of its stay at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, Nick spent some time taking

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Repairing A Pillar

Our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup has continued its stay in our fabrication bay with technician Chris. Chris has been repairing the A-pillar as well as

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Looking Great

Now that our 1970 MGB Roadster has come to the end of its stay at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, Nick spent some time taking these stunning pictures of such a great-looking car.

As it was a rainy day, Nick parked our MGB in The Atelier and gave it the photoshoot a car like this deserves.

New Year Refurbishments

Over the Christmas break, the offices, paint shop and other areas here at Bridge Classic Cars had a bit of a refurbishment.

After undergoing a big clean before we went home for the festive season, each area had a fresh coat of paint and they are looking great ready for a busy year ahead.

The Strip Down Begins

Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 has begun its process of being stripped down by classic car technician Rob.

It will be stripped down to a bare chassis, ready for its full restoration to get properly underway.

Repairing A Pillar

Our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup has continued its stay in our fabrication bay with technician Chris.

Chris has been repairing the A-pillar as well as working on the nuts which are used for the suspension mount.

Our classic Devon will stay with Chris for a little while longer before moving on to the next phase of its restoration.

A beloved workhorse – Our 1974 Mini 850 Van is ready to be won!

The panel van has been a welcomed workhorse for generations. With its utilitarian practicality, the panel van has done everything from moving house to making memories.

Now Bridge Classic Cars wants you to relive and relove those memories with our gorgeous 1974 Mini 850 Van.

With its beautiful dark green paintwork, over a simple but elegant black interior, our Mini panel van was subjected to a full nut and bolt restoration between 2000 and 2013 commissioned by an adoring previous owner. Included in the cars history file are invoices which relate to the cars restoration where no stone was left unturned in bringing this classic Mini back to life.

Powered by a small and simple 848cc 4-cylinder engine and 4 speed manual gearbox, this little Mini has a practical and easy-going charm.

Originally classed as a commercial vehicle, many of these panel van sadly do not exist today due to being in constant heavy use in their younger years, but this one has been cherished since its early days it would seem with the odometer showing just a shade over 28,000 miles, which is believed to be original, since it was first registered in Devon on the 1stย of June 1974.

This is your chance to win this sensational bite-sized panel van for just a few pounds!

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Brakes And Axle Supports

Classic car technician Paul has manufactured brake pipes for our 1956 Jensen 541. After fitting these to the car, he then fabricated axle support straps ready for them to be painted.

Rotation: Limited Experience in Half the Time

When learning to drive a car, passing your test and gaining your licence is only the beginning, after that is when you really start learning.ย  Passing your orals and achieving your CoC is just the same.ย ย ย 

For many crew members, the allure of rotational jobs appears to be an ideal compromise between a career at sea and a stable personal life.  However, there are several major drawbacks, most notably the limited experience gained when working only half of the year.

When gaining experience at sea, you need to endure all of it, the good, the bad, the easy and the hard, if working a rotational role too early in your career, you are dangerously missing out on getting the experience needed.  When working half the year, of that half a year, how much seatime are most yachts actually achieving?  They may be tied up in port, or going through a yard period when the individual is onboard, then suddenly on their 3rd or 4th rotation they might be thrown into the thick of it navigating through busy and difficult areas with little to no navigation experience, but 8/9 months signed on to the vessel with everyone expecting them to know what they are doing. 

Another dangerous element of rotation is lack of familiarity of onboard procedures.ย  From knowing how the bridge operates inside-out, to emergency response, crane operations, tender operations, maintenance issues, history of machinery and equipment, even guest interactions and etiquette.ย  These all take time to gain the understanding and proficiency to work safely and efficiently.ย 


Skills can erode over time, and the skills of rotational crew members are no exception. ย Extended breaks between work stints may cause crew members to lose competence in their duties, which can jeopardize the safety and security of the yacht, its crew and its guests.

Limited experience can lead to reduced confidence and competence among crew members.  Handling various aspects of superyacht operations requires a high level of expertise and self-assurance.  Without consistent exposure to the job, crew members may feel ill-prepared and unsure about their abilities when returning to work.  Itโ€™s almost like having a new crew member join each time there is a change over. 

Providing top-notch service to guests is a core responsibility also, limited exposure to guest trips can result in a diminished ability to anticipate guests’ needs and provide a seamless and unforgettable experience.  The absence of regular practice can lead to guest service that falls short of the industry’s high standards, weโ€™ve all seen the first trip of the season when crew are a bit rusty after a long maintenance period or winter alongside, is this really acceptable for clients that are paying hundreds of thousands a week to enjoy the experience??

To conclude, rotational jobs offer an enticing balance between work and leisure, but they come at a cost. The limited experience gained during half the year can hinder career progression, reduce confidence and competence, and compromise the quality of service provided to guests. ย It is crucial for crew members to consider these negatives when opting for rotational positions and to seek opportunities for continuous learning and skill development to overcome the limitations posed by working only half the year.ย 

In my opinion, rotation is ideal when you have the need for it, such as having a family and you have put in the years of dedication and gained the experience to confidently carry out the job no matter what unfolds.