By Isle of Wight Observer
Wightlink’s overnight FastCat service on summer weekends began with more than 30 customers travelling on the first crossing after midnight from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head.
The summer service of four round-trip sailings on Friday and Saturday night is a four-month trial to assess whether there would be enough demand from people who want to cross the Solent overnight to justify a year-round service.
The Robinson and Annis families from Sandown were among the first to board the 12.15pm FastCat. They were returning to the Island from a holiday in Menorca, but their flight to Gatwick had been delayed, and they missed an earlier train that they were intending to catch.
Cherice Robinson said: “I’m really pleased you’ve started to run foot passenger sailings at weekends as we are all tired and want to get home.”
Wightlink Chief Executive, Keith Greenfield, said: “This was an excellent start to the service. We now want to spread the word that people can enjoy a Friday or Saturday night out on the other side of the Solent this summer without having to worry about catching the last FastCat home. As our Portsmouth car ferry already runs through the night, there is now an overnight crossing every hour at weekends with Wightlink.”
Picture: FastCat Captain Graeme Bissett welcomes the Robinson and Annis families on board the 00.15am sailing on Saturday morning.
