I remember planning on travelling aboard the Lady of Mann in July 1994 when I had just finished my GCSEs. My ticket was transferred to the SeaCat Isle of Man at very short notice and my whole itinerary was messed up. The parent company of the Steam Packet at the time, Sea Containers, had a knack for redeploying vessels within their ferry operations mid season. I'm sorry I never got to experience the traditional ship. The SeaCat was underwhelming, with rows of seats and very limited amenities. The crossing was uneventful in my case, but not one I wanted to repeat.
Oh she was a beauty! Tough as old boots and sail in any weather! Many a force 10 and prob more have I done on her cried coming off. BUT always in one piece
The guy in the blue jumper hit the nail on the head.Even 10 years after this was taken the next generation of fastcraft the mannanan sits at the pier head unable to sail beacause of gales in the irish sea.
The issue with these "fast craft" vessels is that they don't appear to roll the same way that ships do. Speaking from (very) bitter experience they flounder up and down and yaw left and right - my father said you are not really seasick until you want to be put out of your misery. Discovered that in the English Channel - thanks to Condor Ferries !
@thunderbird1853 the ben my chree does take passengers during the winters as the freighting business is slow at these times, its just a way of earning easy cash
The Peveril sailed from Heysham to Douglas overnight,she carried wagons and their drivers,no passengers as such.I worked on her for three years and she was considered the toughest ferry in the fleet.Forever reliable.She even had a sauna!
I had to giggle at the SeaCat's little mishap on its arrival in Fleetwood. Indeed every incident where they came to grief or weather cancellation over the years. Nope, conventional vessels will always be superior.
1:29
I'm Manx I miss our Manx boats xxx
I remember planning on travelling aboard the Lady of Mann in July 1994 when I had just finished my GCSEs. My ticket was transferred to the SeaCat Isle of Man at very short notice and my whole itinerary was messed up. The parent company of the Steam Packet at the time, Sea Containers, had a knack for redeploying vessels within their ferry operations mid season. I'm sorry I never got to experience the traditional ship. The SeaCat was underwhelming, with rows of seats and very limited amenities. The crossing was uneventful in my case, but not one I wanted to repeat.
Oh she was a beauty! Tough as old boots and sail in any weather! Many a force 10 and prob more have I done on her cried coming off. BUT always in one piece
The Vomit Comet, or the Sickcat
The guy in the blue jumper hit the nail on the head.Even 10 years after this was taken the next generation of fastcraft the mannanan sits at the pier head unable to sail beacause of gales in the irish sea.
The issue with these "fast craft" vessels is that they don't appear to roll the same way that ships do.
Speaking from (very) bitter experience they flounder up and down and yaw left and right - my father said you are not really seasick until you want to be put out of your misery. Discovered that in the English Channel - thanks to Condor Ferries !
@thunderbird1853 the ben my chree does take passengers during the winters as the
freighting business is slow at these times, its just a way of earning easy cash
peveral? dont remember that ship i remember the lady of mann and king orry
The Peveril sailed from Heysham to Douglas overnight,she carried wagons and their drivers,no passengers as such.I worked on her for three years and she was considered the toughest ferry in the fleet.Forever reliable.She even had a sauna!
I had to giggle at the SeaCat's little mishap on its arrival in Fleetwood. Indeed every incident where they came to grief or weather cancellation over the years. Nope, conventional vessels will always be superior.
Mark Bregazzi at the end there,four stripes on his shoulder,flapping as ususal.
Seacat... Aka the vomit comet. Joy to work on...not so much for the passengers if the weather was against us