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pessimist

pessimist

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Joined
7 May 2003
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Location
Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
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Interested in traveling to the Island to inspect a boat. As we are around three hours from the ferry (with plenty of opportunities for delay) and wish to spend an indeterminate period examining the boat we would like our sailing times to be flexible. It is not clear from the WightLink website how amenable they are to changing the booking times on the day. I tried reading their TOCs but became terminally bored. Anyone with local knowledge?
 
Where is the boat? If the boat is in Yarmouth or Ryde forget the rest of this post.
But if the boat is in Cowes (east or west) , Red Funnel would be better as you get the flexibility offered by taking either the foot (fast) ferry or the car ferry. Also from Taunton you have a good rail service via Westbury to Southampton with a free bus to take you to the ferries. I've often missed the RF car ferry thanks to the A34 blocking - RF usually stick me on the next ferry even though I buy the non-flex ticket. Coming back with the car they will often put me on an earlier ferry if space is available. On the foot ferry you have to just align with the days /timings for the ticket you buy - not a problem in practice.
Cheers
Bob
 
RIBW said:
Where is the boat? If the boat is in Yarmouth or Ryde forget the rest of this post.
But if the boat is in Cowes (east or west) , Red Funnel would be better as you get the flexibility offered by taking either the foot (fast) ferry or the car ferry. Also from Taunton you have a good rail service via Westbury to Southampton with a free bus to take you to the ferries. I've often missed the RF car ferry thanks to the A34 blocking - RF usually stick me on the next ferry even though I buy the non-flex ticket. Coming back with the car they will often put me on an earlier ferry if space is available. On the foot ferry you have to just align with the days /timings for the ticket you buy - not a problem in practice.
Cheers
Bob
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Thanks for that. Still waiting to hear where the boat is moored, but it looks a bit like Island Harbour. Thought we might go from Lymington 'cos it's a pleasanter drive but open to Southampton/RF if necessary.
Cheers,
Colin
 
Experience using the Lymington-Yarmouth link (my wife is from west Wight) is that if you book for your worst case arrival time, you will almost always be put on an earlier ferry if there is space
 
pessimist said:
Thanks for that. Still waiting to hear where the boat is moored, but it looks a bit like Island Harbour. Thought we might go from Lymington 'cos it's a pleasanter drive but open to Southampton/RF if necessary.
Cheers,
Colin
Click to expand...

Let me know when you decide to come, as residents we get a good supply of discount codes both for ourselves and potential visitors from North Island who come by car and we usually have some spare, generally RF are cheaper than Wightlink with cars (in winter), Island Harbour is a short bus ride from Cowes if no car, winter day return with car on RF is either side of £40 and they may charge you if you change times whereas WL are £60 but don't charge for changes.
 
pessimist said:
....looks a bit like Island Harbour. Colin
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Colin, if it is Island Harbour, taking the RF car ferry to East Cowes will simplify the journey whether you take your car or go on foot and get a taxi. You should be in IH in less than 15 mins from unloading. Arriving via Yarmouth would mean driving to and through Newport which has major roadworks and is best avoided, although at this time of year it is not as bad as it can be.
L395's discount offer is excellent!
Cheers
Bob
 
RIBW said:
Colin, if it is Island Harbour, taking the RF car ferry to East Cowes will simplify the journey whether you take your car or go on foot and get a taxi. You should be in IH in less than 15 mins from unloading. Arriving via Yarmouth would mean driving to and through Newport which has major roadworks and is best avoided, although at this time of year it is not as bad as it can be.
L395's discount offer is excellent!
Cheers
Bob
Click to expand...

Good point on Newport, they've just changed the roadworks and the half mile long IOW motorway at Newport is now contraflow causing chaos and completely befuddling the average IOW driver (beware anything here with an 'HW' reg prefix)
 
pessimist said:
Interested in traveling to the Island to inspect a boat. As we are around three hours from the ferry (with plenty of opportunities for delay) and wish to spend an indeterminate period examining the boat we would like our sailing times to be flexible. It is not clear from the WightLink website how amenable they are to changing the booking times on the day. I tried reading their TOCs but became terminally bored. Anyone with local knowledge?
Click to expand...
I have heard from a quite good source that the IoW ferries always have space on each crossing for emergency vehicles. They will accommodate a car if not being used.
 
Thanks to all. Sounds a though RF are the better bet. Have yet to confirm the boat is in Island Harbour - I'm relying on my memory of a visit some 20 years ago;)
Thanks to Lightwave395 for the offer of discount codes - may well come back to you cap in hand:)

Cheers,
Colin
 
Maybe a silly suggestion, but could the seller not bring their boat across to one of the Solent marinas for a day or two?
 
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