Adverse weather today (Saturday) has forced Hovertravel to suspend services on its Ryde – Southsea route.
Heavy winds have enforced the suspension of the cross-Solent service.
Tickets that have already been purchased are being accepted on Wightlinks Fast Cat service.
An update is due as to whether or not service can continue at 12:00.
Strong winds are forecast for the majority of the day.
Hovertravel apologises for any inconvenience caused.
UPDATE @ 12:05 – Services remain cancelled. The next update is due at 13:45.
UPDATE @ 15:00 – Service will resume from 15:15 from Ryde and 15:30 from Southsea.
Yet more cancellations. Yet again passengers can use the Fast Cat service instead. Why is the Hovercraft not as safe as the Fast Cat? I make that the 7th day of cancellations in the past three weeks. How much longer before passengers give up with the unreliable hovercraft service altogether?
Good job no one relies on this service!,,,,, unfit for purpose craft, fine weather sailing / flying only
For those that grumble about cancellations, it has always been this way with the Hover by nature of the vessel it is. Embrace it’s super fast crossing when it operates but understand it has limitations. I’m just about old enough to remember when tragically a Hover flipped in bad weather in 1972 with the loss of lives. I’m sure we’d all rather Hover cancel due to weather conditions than experience that scenario again.
Well said, although I expect your comments will have gone straight over the heads of those who just like something to moan about.
Yes of course we don’t want to experience that scenario again, but 7 cancellations (or is it 8 now) in 3 weeks suggest the current Hover is not fit for purpose. And the ‘super fast crossing’ as you call it is only marginally quicker than the Fastcat.