Cook Strait Ferries

len_f, Nov 4, 8:43am

used to work on the interislander ferries ,The best position on the ship to avoid seasickness is outside on deck half way between the bow and the stern and in the centre of the deck there appears to be less pitching there.Avoid southerlies ,Northerlies are ok up to a 2.5 mtr swell.Happy sailing

serf407, Nov 4, 9:36am

Blasts from the past
https://youtu.be/8qOYJnwsMC4 Top Cat Cook Strait https://youtu.be/5OvyXsdV6tM The Lynx (one of the Incat versions) https://youtu.be/yJc-fbp8NiM Francisco Buquebus (Across the River Plate, I have seen better video from lower down of the tremendous amount water moved by this vessel at top speed) Stena Alegra renamed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Kaiarahi

jenny188, Nov 4, 9:49am

There's not a lot in it. We travel both ways every two years and have done so for 15 years now. We pick the boats on only the sailing time that suits us the best. Crew at B.B however seem less regimented and always seem to care slightly more

gsimpson, Nov 5, 3:10am

It is a shame the ex English channel hovercraft idea got sot down. They were great. I think there was a proposal to run them Wellington to Blenheim.
We usually do Bluebridge and take the overnight with cabin when we can. That is good as you get aboard and sleep the trip over. An early fresh start from Picton

martin11, Nov 5, 3:25am

How would you get them into Blenheim ? Miles from the coast .

dublo, Nov 5, 4:34am

There was a plan some years ago to bypass Picton and build a great new port at Clifford Bay. I wonder what happened to that idea?

martin11, Nov 5, 7:12pm

It got canned they reckon it was uneconomic .

gsimpson, Nov 5, 7:39pm

Blenheim is on the coast. You wouln't expect them to drive in to the town centre.

lookoutas, Nov 5, 8:25pm

And where can a hovercraft run?

gsimpson, Dec 7, 11:50am

In theory one could drive it from the beach to the town centre but seeing one of those coming down the road would be daunting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR.N4

Dimensions
Length:
Mark 1 and 2: 39.68 m
Mark 3: 56.38 m
Beam: 23.77 m
Height: 11.48 m (on landing pads)
Gross Weight
Mark 1: 165 t
Mark 2: 200 t
Mark 3: 320 t
Powerplant: 4 x 3,400 shp Rolls-Royce Proteus Gas turbines (3,800 shp in Mk.III)
Load:
Mark 1: 30 cars and 250 passengers
Mark 2: 36 cars and 278 passengers
Mark 3: up to 60 cars and 418 passengers (112 tonnes maximum)
Performance
Max speed: Mark 1 - 65 knots (calm water, zero wind, at gross laden weight)
Mk.II - 70 knots (130 km/h)
Normal operating speeds: 40 - 60 knots (110 km/h)
Endurance: 4 hours (maximum power, 2,800 Imperial gallons of fuel)
Gradient: 1 in 11

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