Condor Liberation Swerve

[superheat6k]

Came back from Jersey this evening on the Condor Liberation fast cat. Whilst cruising at 35 knots I was stood at the stern viewing platform looking at the mother of all rooster tails when I noticed the distinct swerve in the wake line as we past a raggie cruising towards Alderney. The natural course line was already ~ 50 m clear of the yacht ~ 30' LOA, but the swerve increased this at least 100m.

Not sure the boat would have noticed, but from the stern of the Condor it was very apparent. I had earlier noticed the skipper waited to make his turn towards Guernsey on leaving St Helier until well clear of several boats approaching the island, made no attempt to cut through the boats just took a nice steady course around them all.

Lovely ride, good food, just too many other people's kids. We past the rocks to the west of Alderney at about 100m distance, so I assumed the skipper trusts his plotter.

 

[Dill et Bound]

The Liberation has taken quite a bit of flack over the past few months.
When I first read your post I thought you may be referring to the swerve type motion that you get with even quite a calm sea.

Cancelled sailings.
Missed connections to other services.
Collision with the dock in St Peter Port.
Have done nothing to endear it to the travelling public.
But when it does run it works really well.
I use the Condor Rapide cat down to St Malo, year round, and to be honest it gives a much better ride.
I also much prefer the open plan seating to the aircraft style layout and low ceilings of the Liberation.
But we shall see how the trimaran design goes over the next winter, which is always a test for any year round service.

 

[rafiki_]

How's the Vette hunting Trevor

 

[Keith-i]

I had the excitement of crossing the Rapide's wake in my rib some years ago. Even though it was a mile away by the time I got to its wake I still got wet as we crashed through the rolling wave. Sounds like a decent skipper if he made the effort to reduce the effect on the raggie.

 

[superheat6k]

I had the excitement of crossing the Rapide's wake in my rib some years ago. Even though it was a mile away by the time I got to its wake I still got wet as we crashed through the rolling wave. Sounds like a decent skipper if he made the effort to reduce the effect on the raggie.

This was the new Condor Liberation which I understand has three hulls, and the lack of wake was impressive.

To Paul (Rafiki)

Went over to Jersey see four Corvettes, the weather across on Monday on Commodore Clipper (ship) was simply awful, took 9 hours instead of 7 and most of the time pitching and rolling like a rolley pitchy thing. Also Condor cancelled the fast cat from Poole so many of her passengers re-located to the Pompey route. Sick bags, the delightful aroma of fresh puke and bodies lying around everywhere. Fortunately we managed to get a cabin for the crossing, so at least the girls could sleep through the sickness feeling. It even had me on the border for a while.

Anyway we viewed one on Tuesday, which today I intimated my idea of an offer, which was immediately rejected, so I have taken my ball home on that one, and I am now pitching for the second seen yesterday.

We missed the two in Guernsey because the weather was too much for the small ferry that plies between the islands, but one was described as a basket case and the other wanted too much money anyway. For a brokers to describe a boat as a basket case must mean it was virtually sinking on its mooring.

Thing is I now have the conundrum that despite there being ~14 Corvettes on the market, and none have sold for many months apart from one very good one and one OK that went for a song to another forumite,, the current clutch of vendors are sitting in the clouds presently awaiting prices that will never be achieved, and the general condition of presentation is simply astoundingly awful.

But I will find one, and now I have three vendors playing the long game, and SWMBO has found me plenty to do around the house !