what happened to high speed ferries?
Discussion
..." 
It only took 3hrs when I was on it which wasn't too long for the distance, now it's something like 7hrs I'd rather take the tunnel and drive! A related story of mine;
Whilst organising a charity ball in the 1990s, my wife and I went to buy the booze in Calais.
We got caught in a huge storm on the way back, and we were held outside Dover for 8 hours because our ship had decent stabilisers, and therefore could endure better.
Glass everywhere in the duty free shop, piles of vomit all over the place, but surprisingly the Club lounge in the middle at the top was fine, except for broken crockery.
We finally pulled in to Dover, and ours was the second last car off. The car deck was rising and falling at least a metre and the guy on the car deck gave us a 3-2-1 and we almost literally flew off the ferry...I looked in my rear view mirror to see the ship already pulling back out to sea, as it couldn't stay berthed in such a strong swell within the harbour.
That was a long night...!
loafer123 said:
A related story of mine;
Whilst organising a charity ball in the 1990s, my wife and I went to buy the booze in Calais.
We got caught in a huge storm on the way back, and we were held outside Dover for 8 hours because our ship had decent stabilisers, and therefore could endure better.
Glass everywhere in the duty free shop, piles of vomit all over the place, but surprisingly the Club lounge in the middle at the top was fine, except for broken crockery.
We finally pulled in to Dover, and ours was the second last car off. The car deck was rising and falling at least a metre and the guy on the car deck gave us a 3-2-1 and we almost literally flew off the ferry...I looked in my rear view mirror to see the ship already pulling back out to sea, as it couldn't stay berthed in such a strong swell within the harbour.
That was a long night...!
Having grown up on various boats from Canal to Sea I read stories like this and just think "That sounds awesome Whilst organising a charity ball in the 1990s, my wife and I went to buy the booze in Calais.
We got caught in a huge storm on the way back, and we were held outside Dover for 8 hours because our ship had decent stabilisers, and therefore could endure better.
Glass everywhere in the duty free shop, piles of vomit all over the place, but surprisingly the Club lounge in the middle at the top was fine, except for broken crockery.
We finally pulled in to Dover, and ours was the second last car off. The car deck was rising and falling at least a metre and the guy on the car deck gave us a 3-2-1 and we almost literally flew off the ferry...I looked in my rear view mirror to see the ship already pulling back out to sea, as it couldn't stay berthed in such a strong swell within the harbour.
That was a long night...!
" think I might have missed my calling in life 
The Sea Cat from Holyhead to Dublin used to do port to port in under an hour. It was great. My understanding from my father who lives on Anglesey was that the initial reason for slowing it down was coastal erosion caused by the wake which was up to 4 miles long. Whether that was just a fluffy excuse due to fuel costs I do not know. But I believe the crossing time increased to 1 hour thirty although I haven't been over in for a couple of years due to the extortionate cost of a weekend in Dublin!!
geeks said:
loafer123 said:
A related story of mine;
Whilst organising a charity ball in the 1990s, my wife and I went to buy the booze in Calais.
We got caught in a huge storm on the way back, and we were held outside Dover for 8 hours because our ship had decent stabilisers, and therefore could endure better.
Glass everywhere in the duty free shop, piles of vomit all over the place, but surprisingly the Club lounge in the middle at the top was fine, except for broken crockery.
We finally pulled in to Dover, and ours was the second last car off. The car deck was rising and falling at least a metre and the guy on the car deck gave us a 3-2-1 and we almost literally flew off the ferry...I looked in my rear view mirror to see the ship already pulling back out to sea, as it couldn't stay berthed in such a strong swell within the harbour.
That was a long night...!
Having grown up on various boats from Canal to Sea I read stories like this and just think "That sounds awesome Whilst organising a charity ball in the 1990s, my wife and I went to buy the booze in Calais.
We got caught in a huge storm on the way back, and we were held outside Dover for 8 hours because our ship had decent stabilisers, and therefore could endure better.
Glass everywhere in the duty free shop, piles of vomit all over the place, but surprisingly the Club lounge in the middle at the top was fine, except for broken crockery.
We finally pulled in to Dover, and ours was the second last car off. The car deck was rising and falling at least a metre and the guy on the car deck gave us a 3-2-1 and we almost literally flew off the ferry...I looked in my rear view mirror to see the ship already pulling back out to sea, as it couldn't stay berthed in such a strong swell within the harbour.
That was a long night...!
" think I might have missed my calling in life He opened the curtains in the morning expecting to see Lerwick harbour. He looked out on Scapa Flow in Orkney.
Instead of 14 hours the journey took 42. A couple of cars were written off (comprehensively...) when a trailer shifted.
Trophy Husband said:
The Sea Cat from Holyhead to Dublin used to do port to port in under an hour. It was great. My understanding from my father who lives on Anglesey was that the initial reason for slowing it down was coastal erosion caused by the wake which was up to 4 miles long. Whether that was just a fluffy excuse due to fuel costs I do not know. But I believe the crossing time increased to 1 hour thirty although I haven't been over in for a couple of years due to the extortionate cost of a weekend in Dublin!!
Under an hour? Wow! That's good going - are you sure? I remember the HSS proudly boasting a 99 minute crossing but can't remember anything quicker.MarshPhantom said:
Used to use The Speedferries boat to Boulogne quite often. Gutted when they stopped that service.
Same here, after the Hoverspeed service got canned I switched to Speed Ferries, had some amazing crossings in weather so bad you wondered how the thing stayed afloat but I loved it, was like a big roller coaster (with added broken glass and puke obviously)Nothing remotely as much fun now, though I still refuse to use that god-awful tunnel.
K50 DEL said:
MarshPhantom said:
Used to use The Speedferries boat to Boulogne quite often. Gutted when they stopped that service.
Same here, after the Hoverspeed service got canned I switched to Speed Ferries, had some amazing crossings in weather so bad you wondered how the thing stayed afloat but I loved it, was like a big roller coaster (with added broken glass and puke obviously)Nothing remotely as much fun now, though I still refuse to use that god-awful tunnel.
I loved these boats when I was about 5/6 I wrote a letter to SeaCat and they sent me a full information pack on it.
When the stena hss was still in loch Ryan when I was 15 I got a train at stupid o'clock and went on it to Belfast once in Belfast I didn't bother getting off as I just wanted a shot on it , que being surrounded by security! Wondering why I wasn't getting off.
When the stena hss was still in loch Ryan when I was 15 I got a train at stupid o'clock and went on it to Belfast once in Belfast I didn't bother getting off as I just wanted a shot on it , que being surrounded by security! Wondering why I wasn't getting off.
grumpy52 said:
The Seacat service from Folkestone was speed restricted due to people on the beach being swamped .
It was fun being on the breakwater in Dover, when they were relocated , big plumes out the back when they gave it the beans .The Blue Riband for channel crossings
Came back from Boulogne on it once when the waves were breaking over the breakwater at Boulogne. Captain came in the eastern end of dover harbour, where the big ferries come in normally, and kept it up on the plane until he was inside the breakwaters. Had been a bit rough to be fair.It was fun being on the breakwater in Dover, when they were relocated , big plumes out the back when they gave it the beans .The Blue Riband for channel crossings
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