HOVERCRAFT & OTHER VESSELS Part 2 - Wightlink ferries

22nd October 2016 WIGHTLINK ferries
On the promenade beside the beach I saw a Memorial plaque, stating that nearby on 14th September 1805 Admiral Lord Nelson embarked for the last time, being killed on the following 21st October at the victorious Battle of Trafalgar. Yesterday evening I raised a glass to Nelson, on what I hope might one day be a Trafalgar Day Bank Holiday in the UK.

There was also a blue plaque to Sir Alec Rose commemorating his single-handed round-the-world yacht voyage in 1968.

St. Clare leaving Portsmouth as we left the Hovercraft terminal

The blue plaque to Sir Alec Rose


Then it was back to the car for a fast drive to the Wightlink ferry terminal, and boarding ST. CECILIA for the 40 minute ride from Portsmouth to Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight.

About to board St. Cecilia as a foot passenger


She was built in 1992; there were many passengers on board and we enjoyed seeing the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, the Mary Mouse 2 former lightship, now a floating restaurant at Haslar Marina, Gosport, as we sailed out of the harbour.

The linkspan built in 1982

The bell on St. Cecilia

The Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth Gunwharf Quay

Mary Mouse 2, a former lightship and now a floating restaurant in Haslar Marina, Gosport

We left our berth and watched St. Faith arriving

This picture was on board St. Cecilia

This was a view astern


We sat in the sunshine near the Fishbourne terminal building and then waited for the ST. FAITH Wightlink ferry to take us back to Portsmouth.

At Fishbourne

The Sealink linkspan built in 1983

As we boarded St. Faith we could see a builders plate from 1990

There were few foot passengers


There were few of us passengers on board but our little tour of the ship showed us a familiar poster picture: it was the same one used on board the ANNA MUR, the ex ST. HELEN of Sealink and Wightlink fame, that we sailed on last month in September to and from the Sardinian mainland port of Portovesme and the St. Peter island port of Carloforte, where we had stayed. It made us smile happily to see this reminder of another fascinating ferry trip.

The same advertising picture as the one we saw on board the Anna Mur, the ex-St. Helen, last month sailing to Carloforte, on the Sardinian island of St. Peter

This is the picture we saw on the Anna Mur in September, in Carloforte

This is the GB Conte, the ex-St. Catherine from Wightlink, in Carloforte

With the name very clearly seen

This is the Anna Mur, the ex-St. Helen, in Carloforte

Again with the name clearly to be seen

This gives an idea of the route we sailed to and from Portovesme on the Sardinian mainland to Carloforte on the island of St. Peter

On board St. Faith

Life ring on St. Faith

The Bridge


Here on the ST. FAITH I got talking to a member of the crew up on deck and mentioned that we had recently been sailing on the previous ST. HELEN in Sardinian waters, and seen the previous ST. CATHERINE as well.

He was fascinated to see the pictures and asked if we could wait just a moment, disappeared inboard for a couple of minutes, and then returned to ask if we would like to come onto the Bridge and talk to the Captain about our trip and photos! We certainly did and would, and followed him up on to the Bridge. That proved an interesting and enjoyable time up there with the Captain, as the Quartermaster skilfully took us around the many Saturday sailors out on the water as we headed towards Portsmouth again.

View from the Bridge

On the Bridge of St. Faith


We had to leave the Bridge as we neared Portsmouth Harbour but had enjoyed meeting the Captain and the views as we sailed along.


To be continued...

HOVERCRAFT & OTHER VESSELS Part 1

Saturday 22nd October 2016
It was early on a bright and sunny autumn morning when I stood on the pavement near Southsea beach in Hampshire, England. My ferry friends arrived by car and we were soon parked and taking photographs of NORMANDIE of Brittany Ferries as she sailed out of Portsmouth, heading for France.

Normandie of Brittany Ferries

Another view of Normandie


We could then walk into the Hover Travel office nearby, to buy return tickets on a Hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde in the Isle of Wight. The journey takes only ten minutes, but it was fascinating to anticipate and also to enjoy.

We were soon allowed out of the Terminal building to walk across the short distance to board FREEDOM 90 for our Flight at 9 a.m. She had arrived and berthed between SOLENT FLYER and ISLAND FLYER, which made for an unusual sight as far as I was concerned. We felt our vessel lift, and we turned and headed out to cross Southampton Water to the Isle of Wight. I marvelled at the 1955 invention by the famous Sir Christopher Cockerell, which first crossed the English Channel in July 1959. The vessel is described as a vehicle supported on a cushion of air supplied by a powered fan mounted on the craft - brilliant - hence Hover Travel calling it a flight.

Freedom 90, at Southsea

On board Freedom 90


I first went on a SRN4 Hovercraft called PRINCESS ANNE back in the early 1980s, sailing from Dover across the English Channel. Some passengers had their cars loaded on the hovercraft, which were much bigger than today's craft, ready to drive south in France; we simply went as foot passengers for the experience.

Today though we soon arrived at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, disembarked from FREEDOM 90 into the terminal and then climbed the nearby stairs to the bridge over the railway lines. This gave us a good view of the hovercraft down below, and we could watch our vessel head back to Southsea. The tide seemed to be out and there was a lot of mud-flats to be seen as we watched her go. Then it was time for breakfast ashore.

Solent Flyer nearby

Island Flyer on the left, Freedom 90 in the centre and Solent Flyer on the right; a case of one and two halves...

Freedom 90 going back to Southsea

Away she goes

She's well away


Back at the bridge over the railway lines we were pleased to be able to see the brand new SOLENT FLYER down below us on the tarmac, and we were even more pleased to see her changing places with ISLAND FLYER. We really hoped she might be our vessel for our ride back to Southsea... and yes, she was to be!

Island Flyer at Ryde Pier, Isle of Wight

Solent Flyer from the railway bridge

Changing places

To the centre

Two Flyers

Boarding the new Solent Flyer


We were soon on SOLENT FLYER, embarking at the front/bow end this time (rather than near the stern) and admiring her new livery of our national flag. Once inside we could also admire the spacious look of the design with big windows and a streamlined look throughout. The builders plate by Griffon was dated January 2016, with a delivery date of March 2016, and after sea trials she soon came into service with a gross tonnage of 15.27. I particularly admired the mural effect of the wall behind the 24 passengers she can carry, as we sat down and prepared to 'fly' across the water back to Southsea. One of the crew came to talk to us and he was obviously very proud of the new hovercraft.

Inside Solent Flyer

Registration Plate

Builders Plate

On board and looking astern at the seats and mural


We noticed that as it was a Saturday there seemed to be a lot of other smaller craft around us, and it became necessary to take a somewhat convoluted route across the water. The Wightlink ferries were also crossing back and forth between Portsmouth Harbour and the Isle of Wight, so there was a lot to see in our short journey!

Back in Southsea we went down on the beach towards the sea and could watch SOLENT FLYER embark more passengers before she set off for Ryde again.

Solent Flyer viewed from the beach as she began to turn, ready for her next 'flight'

The sea nearby

Solent Flyer going back to Ryde


What wonderful vessels they are.


To be continued...