Hoverspeed end sailings

[Nordic]

Hoverspeed look likely to end their Dover-Calais after this weekend.
We have used their service either from Newhaven or Dover since they took over the newhaven route and never had a problem.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4396062.stm

The choice has now got a bit smaller.

[Lorry]

From the website

"Hoverspeed will be ceasing operations after the last scheduled sailing on the 7th of November 2005."

Looks like Speedferries have done for them.  In August with a caravan they wanted over £1,000, and I can't believe that in the days of Easyjet that anyone is going to pay that much. With P&O Portsmouth packing up too, it seems odd that they can't make money out of this like they could a few years ago.  The tunnel is not undercutting them.  I think that with the internet etc people look for the cheapest.

We are now entering the quiet part of the year, and they do not have the freight to fall back on, so now is the time to quit.  They must have had a poor summer, with no one prepared to pay a premium for their service (it saves 30 mins in a 12 hour trip so why bother) plus Speedferries.  They had given up on Newhaven as it wouldn't pay too, as its too expensive for a short crossing and too short for a long crossing.

I'm glad I went on one of their Hovercrafts though

[Steve Pyro]

......I'm glad I went on one of their Hovercrafts though

Yes Lorry.  Me and my better half went to Paris in 1986 via train to Dover and one of the old SRN4 hovercraft (Princesses Anne and Margaret and 3 others).
The 2 Princesses ceased operating in October 2000 after 32 years and were put up for sale, having first entered service in 67 / 68.

If you're interesting in buying one, see here http://www.vessels4sale.com/high_speed/ht_princess_anne.htm

They are currently based at the Hovercraft Museum, Lee on Solent.

[Lazy B'stard]

Is it not worth having a whip round? we could collect CAers along the south coast and go all the way to Maison B none stop (well- via Carrefour) put a disco on board!! would be ace.
I'll put a tenner in Anyone else??

[Robbo SPS]

We use part of the air strip behind for driver training.

I managed to have a cool look round one lunchtime. They really are 1970's cool, But not for the modern traveller.

Strange that the Hoverspeed market has gone down hill since the removal of the hover-srafts.

[NormanD]

I would be intersed in buying but it will not quite fit my garage.

Mind you at 5,000 Lts/Hr the Jag dosn't seem to bad.

[Tarquin]

If you are looking for a cheap crossing (and that's my second favourite price) try TML ferry Newhaven/Dieppe.

Only cost me £40 for the bike last year compared to £140 for Brittany Portsmouth/Caen.

One word of warning it is cheap & a little nasty. Watch out for the carrots in the baked beans at breakfast. Bizarre, but then that's what Le Mans is all about.

Tarquin

[Lorry]

......... Watch out for the carrots in the baked beans at breakfast. .............

Isn't this the Billy Connolly joke about there being diced carrots in everything

[Kpy]

http://www.hoverspeed.com/