CAP FINISTERE ferry crossings
Sunday 2nd May/Monday 3rd May 2010
One of the delights of a British Bank Holiday is the chance to use the time away from work and travel a little further than on a normal weekend. After a 3 night trip on the good ship MARCO POLO from Tilbury, on Sunday 2nd May I took the opportunity to get a train south to the Hampshire port of Portsmouth, ready to sail on the cruise ferry CAP FINISTERE from there to Cherbourg during the day, and return overnight.
I was with my ferry chums Bruce, Matthew and Richard so it was a happy group who enjoyed Earl Grey tea at the Clarence Pier area of Southsea, waiting for our ship to come in (nothing new there then)! We saw the Wightlink vessel ST. CECILIA arriving from Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight, and a hovercraft, and then Brittany Ferries’ CAP FINISTERE herself. We were to sail on her at 16.45 to Cherbourg in France, and then return on the same ship overnight.
She was built in Kiel by Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG, at 32,728 gross tons as SUPERFAST V, for delivery in July 2000, to Superfast Ferries of Patras, Greece, with a service speed of 28 knots, but the yard soon had problems with the building and the transmission; delivery date was changed to November, but even after sea trials and more work the owners would not accept the ship until 5th April 2001. She sailed from Patras to Ancona but the gear problems continued and she was sent to Lloyd Werft at Bremerhaven in February 2002 for rebuilding. In April 2002 she resumed her Patras-Ancona service, then Patras-Igoumenitsa-Bari in 2007 and to Ancona in 2008. I sailed on her during that time and enjoyed the experience.
Superfast Ferries decided to sell her in December 2009, for delivery in February 2010to Brittany Ferries and this took place on 12th February in Syros; it seems the sale price was £75 million; four days later she was renamed CAP FINISTERE and sailed for Portsmouth. On 23rd February 2010 she tested the ramps there before going to Arno, Dunkirk, for repainting. So in March 2010 she started sailing for Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth on their twice-weekly sailings to Santander, Spain, and their thrice-weekly sailings to Cherbourg, France.
Having checked in at the terminal, we had to take the little bus to the actual ship. The kind driver was persuaded to drive slowly so we could see and photograph the red-hulled ship EXPEDITION which was berthed nearby, and whilst we were waiting for the rest of the foot passengers he even cleaned the outside windows on our side of the bus so we could get better pictures!
Getting on board was easy and we were soon up the escalators and onto the public decks, then into the stern lounge with its wide views; here I was approached by someone who knew my name, and happened to be travelling with other friends, so introductions were made – goodness, a kind of fame! I also received a text message from a friend in Paris, who had been told I was on board by these other mutual friends, so life started to feel rather surreal for a few minutes.
The ship has lots of open deck and seating, and internally there are lots of eating and sitting spaces, so it was interesting to walk around and notice there were few alterations that had been made to the vessel. The ones we did find were photographed as we sailed across the Channel. The eating facilities did not offer much choice in the way of venue or menu, but they were acceptable; I imagine things could be very different on a busy sailing.
We sailed on time and made excellent speed across to Cherbourg, disembarking in darkness, and waiting a short time before embarking for our return trip overnight to Portsmouth, sailing at 23.45 hours.
Ships seen: Commodore Goodwill, Commodore Clipper, St. Cecilia, Expedition, Jack James (tug), Agulhas Stream, Wight Ryder II and a Gosport ferry, Ed Sheepdog which was a small fishing boat, various warships in Portsmouth, Victory,
Monday 3rd May 2010
With a 09.00 hours arrival there was time for breakfast on board and a final look round at the sea and Channel shipping. The overnight sailing had been calm and we wondered if we had actually moved far after leaving Cherbourg. Bruce thought we didn’t start sailing again until about 5 a.m., and I remember looking out of my cabin at one point during the night and seeing a few coastal lights on the port side, which suggested it was the French coast.
Back at Portsmouth we disembarked and continued our weekend journeys by heading for the Isle of Wight ferries and a trip to locate the old paddle steamer RYDE, so that will be a little tale for another time.
Our time on CAP FINISTERE had been enjoyable and I found it strange to be on a ship that I had known in her previous life as SUPERFAST V, but all ships are interesting and this was no different.
Ships seen: Bustler, Normandie, Norman Arrow, St. Helen, hovercraft
