Weather affecting ferries?

[Ptostevin]

I was wondering how the weather has been affecting the channel ferries - we will be travelling with Speedferries - and was looking to see what information was available on the internet and found...

BBC Travel News - Ferries - has reports of incidents affecting the ferries :-  http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/index_sea.shtml

To listen to Kent traffic news which can include ferry information:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/index.shtml 

To look at Wind information and forecasts:- http://www.xcweather.co.uk/index.php?Loc=FR

The good old Shipping Forecast:-  http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/datafiles/offshore.html

I had a look yesterday and BBC were reporting delays of 1 hour for the Norfolk Line due to earlier adverse weather conditions in the Channel - but no reports on Speedferries which I would have thought would have been more affected by the strong winds!

Anyone found any other interesting sources of information?

Paul

(Now where did we put those travel sickness pills...)

[Cassis]

We had some bikers travelling home to UK from Dieppe on Transmanche on Monday this week so I rang the company at 7.30am to see if there were any delays to the 12.30 crossing as the weather was so bad in the Channel.  No answer the passenger service number (should have known, really) and no info on the recorded message on the booking service number.  And of course, their website is useless!  So if you find anywhere that covers Transmanche Ferries, please let us know!

Phil

[Will]

As the BBC etc rely solely on information given by the ferry companies, they are not likely to have any more information either on Transmanche. Brittany Ferries is also rather poor at giving out service information.

Normal ferries should not be unduly affected by the weather (though they can be - look at what happened to the Pont Aven recently). But delays can occur with tight schedules. The fast catamaran ferries, as used by Speedferries, are limited by the regulations to certain wave heights. The significant wave height depends on a lot of factors, but as a general rule, if winds of Force 6 or more are forecast there is a pretty good chance that the ferry will be cancelled or will have to operate at reduced speed, which can, ironically, produce an even more uncomfortable motion than when travelling quickly, and it goes on for longer too.

[Blanche Neige]

We returned yesterday on the Bretagne, St. Malo to Portsmouth crossing. The crossing was O.K. maybe a bit more rocky than usual but not a problem.

We were fine but some passengers seemed to be under the weather they could have been suffering from motion sickness or maybe the effects of a bad meal before they left France. I don't think the weather delayed us at all although we waited longer than usual to go down to collect the car and disembark.

[sandt]

enjoy speed ferries !! rocky weather on the big boats means a big dipper ride on the cat.

[Monika]

I have just found out that there is a Brittany Ferries Enthusiasts Club: www.bfenthusiasts.com. They might have very good, up to date "Insider Information".  

[Cassis]

Good God!  A Brittany Ferries Enthusiasts website - whatever next?  Good tip, though, Monika.

[Kitty]

I have to keep my eye on the weather when I cross the Channel as my daughter is hospitalised if she gets sea sick (yes, I saw the inside of St Malo hospital for 10 days last year).

I use the BBC 5-day pressure weather charts to decide which day to cross and book just a couple of days in advance.  Only once was the crossing completely booked and Brit Ferries moved me to another destination.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/pressure

[Paris]

Noticed Transmanche new ferry was in dock at Newhaven all day Saturday (May 26th).  No lorries in the port, so clearly no sailings.  No idea of the reason - I am not intending to sail on the ferry at present, so if I had gone into the port and asked, I would only have done so as I was being nosy!  I did wonder though if this was weather related - I was surprised at the lack of activity, it being a Bank Holiday saturday.

Julia