Here is a video of the Catamaran leaving Torquay on it's way to Brixham with about 40 passengers. About 60 disembarked when it pulled in. It seems to be going fairly well regards to passenger numbers with everyone saying nice things about the trip as they left the boat. There have been stories going round that the boat ran over some dolphins out in the Bay but what was happening was the dolphins came out to play in front of the boat just as dolphins do. In the end the driver just pulled round them and left then playing happily with a half eaten herring the way all predators play with their food.
If you want a quieter, slower more traditional way to sail across the Bay there is still the Western Lady who will still be here when this month's trial ends. 
When this ferry was first mentioned by Stagecoach they said they were going to spend £4 million getting two boats built in South Africa. Now it appears they are, if thousands and thousands of people do use the service in the next month, looking to hire or buy a boat locally to use. A slight change of plan.
6 comments:
Fancy reversing all that way with no banksman!! No headlights or four way flashers. Tut Tut.
"on it's way to Brixham with about 40 passengers. About 60 disembarked when it pulled in."
So where did the other 20 get on????
LOL
:D :D
One month trial @ £200,000 with fifteen return journeys a day. Average loading reported by Stagecoach = 40 (have you seen the 10 staff hanging around Brixham quayside to welcome one intrepid traveller aboard at 07.20 in the pouring rain?) By my rough arithmetic they would need to take around £6,000 + per day to even break even. Looks like they are pulling in around £1,200 a day (assuming all are adult returns - which of course they won't be). Someone buy Brian Souter a new calculator quickly, or get his sister back to tell him to put his toys away and stick to buses.
I wish it well for next year
Nice boat. Hope it does well. Good movie. - Dave
For us, the biggest advantage was the combined price for the catamaran and unlimited bus journeys (£6 each reduced to £4.50 each for a family of 4 buying at the shop). If you catch the catamaran to Brixham, do the five and a half hour walk to Kingwear, catch a 120 back and then a 12 and another bus later then that's very good value. If you just want a gentle return cruise to Brixham then the existing boats are fine. Stagecoach could promote a round robin: take the ferry one way, walk as far back round the bay as you like, then take a 12 the rest of the way?
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