When even ferries run for shelter

Telstar26

Telstar26

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Aug 2004
Messages
207
Location
Fishguard, Pembs
www.parkerseal.org.uk
An interesting crossing from Rosslare to Fishguard last weekend: http://pembrokeshire-herald.com/13331/ferry-passengers-rough-26-hour-ride/

It was a northerly gale at the time. I was quite surprised to see Stena Europe arriving at all!

This photo was taken as she was turning into Fishguard:
ferry.jpg

(Photo by Lisa Roberts, posted on Facebook here: here)
 
Last edited:
islecastle1 said:
Absolutely! I hope the vehicles were well chained down!
Click to expand...

"On Saturday night (Jan 31) Rachel Crombie posted on Facebook: “Sally, my friend, is aboard and they’re up near Barmouth now, hoping to dock back down in Fishguard tomorrow morning, but a lorry has overturned on board so actually getting anyone who’s on with a vehicle is going to take hours if and when they finally dock.”"
 
JumbleDuck said:
"On Saturday night (Jan 31) Rachel Crombie posted on Facebook: “Sally, my friend, is aboard and they’re up near Barmouth now, hoping to dock back down in Fishguard tomorrow morning, but a lorry has overturned on board so actually getting anyone who’s on with a vehicle is going to take hours if and when they finally dock.”"
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. Sounds like horrible trip. I don't do FB, so missed the detail.
 
islecastle1 said:
Thanks for that info. Sounds like horrible trip. I don't do FB, so missed the detail.
Click to expand...

It's actually buried away inside the original article ... I have a facebook account, but tend to log in once a year only, on my birthday. These forums waste quite enough of my time.

And yes, it sounds pretty horrible ... they were actually tied up at Pembroke Dock, it seems, when things got hairy, a mooring rope broke and they scarpered before the vehicles could unload. Perhaps they had already unchained the one which rolled? Since Milford Haven is a pretty well sheltered harbour, and Pembroke Dock is a fair way up it, it must have been wild.
 
We were on a ferry to Cherbourg in the early 80's that took about 14 hours instead of about 5. I think it was a westerly gale and the boat seemed to stand off heading west for a long time probably waiting to be able to go broadside on and turn. The boat was trashed and you could hear cars below crashing about, smell of petrol everywhere, all services shut. A huge multi currency till took off from inside the closed duty free area and crashed through an internal window. Glass and money covering people collapsed on the floor and only just missed us and a row of seats. The sea as I recall was just like scenes from "The Cruel Sea". This was before I did any boating so I was only mildly concerned. Ignorance is bliss-I would have been frightened now!
 
Could well have been doing a crossing from Calais to Dover at the same time as catalac..... Crossing that should have taken 90 minutes or so took about 8 hours. We entered Dover once, only to turn round and go back outside, apparently because there wasn't enough water at the berth: the wave height was such that there was a danger of grounding.... At least one lorry went over, a large fridge could be heard dancing it's way round the galley and SWMBO and the kids were all as sick as dogs. Don't envy the folks on board the Stena ferry at all.
 
yes a cracking photo, did a force 12 across biscay on the old 'billy boat' one year,piano broke free smahed the bar up and you could hear the plates crashing to the floor in the galley,breakfast was a very quiet affair,just me chasing the plate around the table
 
My father was purser on the Ayr - Campbeltown steamers ... he remembers one crossing so rough that he saw a mother slumped, helpless with seasickness, at the bottom of the main stairs, throwing up repeatedly over the baby on her lap. A paddler, I think, and no stabilisers.
 
On the Dover / Calais run always try to use the newer P&O ferries, they have larger bow and stern thrusters so they can dock without the help of the little tug. Saves a lot of time.
 
Telstar26 said:
An interesting crossing from Rosslare to Fishguard last weekend: http://pembrokeshire-herald.com/13331/ferry-passengers-rough-26-hour-ride/

It was a northerly gale at the time. I was quite surprised to see Stena Europe arriving at all!

This photo was taken as she was turning into Fishguard:
ferry.jpg

(Photo by Lisa Roberts, posted on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203725139188732&set=gm.836350826408794&type=1&theater)
Click to expand...

Was on a night ferry in 1974 crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare when we went almost up to Dublin before turning south to (eventually) enter Rosslare the following evening. Had just a deck fare but was "given" a cabin deep in the bowels of the ship where I spent some time observing how the wooden clothes hanger on a hook behind the door went from + to - 40 degrees from the horizontal, and back again with monotonous regularity. Prayed a lot, but was not sick at any time.

Had breakfast alone, just me and one cook in the restaurant, full English with toast and marmalade. Was delicious, but needed attention to avoid it "going for a walk" along the table. Don't remember spilling any tea or coffee.

Those that do it for a living, in big and small vessels, merit our respect.

Plomong
 
JumbleDuck said:
My father was purser on the Ayr - Campbeltown steamers ... he remembers one crossing so rough that he saw a mother slumped, helpless with seasickness, at the bottom of the main stairs, throwing up repeatedly over the baby on her lap. A paddler, I think, and no stabilisers.
Click to expand...

Did she remember eating it?
 
Sailed P &O to Calais on 27th December 2014 for weeks skiing.

We circled around in the channel for some 5hrs as Port of Calais was declared closed due to 100mph winds! Captain explained that he was trying to keep steerage way to use stabilisers.

I was staggered at how smooth the ferry crossing was in those conditions especially compared to some large cruise ships I have been on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top