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Original poster

How bad does the weather have to be for a ferry to be cancelled?

31 replies

Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/09/2022 21:38

I’m due to cross from South Wales to Southern Ireland this Friday lunchtime.

The wind is looking like it’s going to be very strong. What does it take for a crossing to be cancelled?

and if it’s not, what are the best sea sickness remedies?!

tia

OP posts:
Thursa · 27/09/2022 21:43

Pretty bad, if the videos of the ferry from the mainland to Orkney ferry are anything to go by…

I take seasickness pills and use those wrist bands. Plain food before hand, and get a seat near the toilets, just in case.

goosebuster · 27/09/2022 21:55

It's not just wind speed, they will take tides, swell, wind direction and probably a multitude of other things into account when deciding whether or not to sail.

If it does sail and you aren't feeling good, go as close to the middle of the boat as possible (remembering that a lot of the vessel is under water too). Some people it helps if they can look at the horizon but I personally don't find this a helpful approach.

I'm a regular on the aforementioned ferry to Orkney (but a bloody awful sailor).

Quveas · 27/09/2022 22:04

An awful lot more than "strong winds and a few showers" - no way will it be cancelled. And given the size of the Rosslare ferry, you'd need to be a very poor sailor to notice much difference, based on the forecast. It takes an actual storm - and the forecast is nowhere near that - to have much of an impact on large ferries.

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Original poster
Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/09/2022 22:12

I thought 40mph + winds sounded quite strong.

perhaps I have no need to be so concerned.

I think I’ll visit the pharmacy for some sea sickness tablets though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Muchtoomuchtodo · 28/09/2022 19:05

My travelling companion is adamant that it’s going to be cancelled.
I’m trying to be optimistic

OP posts:
TightDiamondShoes · 28/09/2022 19:08

Haha @ 40mph winds being “strong”. Bless your southern heart. 😉 40mph in the pentland firth is child’s play.

stugeron is your friend - you can get it at any pharmacy.

some people have stronger stomachs than others - no shame in it.

gogohmm · 28/09/2022 19:11

Pretty bad though depends on route because they are different vessel types. Was in a force 11 going to Shetlands

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 28/09/2022 19:42

If you're going to be driving when you get off, make sure that the sea sickness tablets don't cause drowsiness.

notprincehamlet · 28/09/2022 20:10

I was due to travel on the Dublin Swift from Holyhead and it was cancelled because of the weather. We were transferred to the big ferry. The palm trees outside the ferry terminal were almost horizontal with the wind but the ferry was fine - much smoother than I was expecting.

Original poster
Muchtoomuchtodo · 28/09/2022 21:30

I’ve got travel sickness pills but when I got them home I noticed that they do say that they may cause drowsiness, I called into the pharmacy again today but everything they had said the same, even the patch to go behind the ear

any suggestions of non drowsy travel sickness remedies?

OP posts:
EpicGem · 28/09/2022 22:16

When I went to IOM last year, I used seabands. If I'm on a ferry for longer than a couple of hours I get sea sick and tablets don't help. No idea why but the seabands worked. I was sceptical that an acupressure band would work where medication hadn't but pleasantly surprised.

TightDiamondShoes · 28/09/2022 22:22

Looking at magic seaweed it doesn’t look like there will be much swell. Panic ye not.

OneWildNightWithJBJ · 28/09/2022 22:33

I’d say it takes quite a lot to be cancelled. We were on a ferry to Shetland a few years ago and were told it was the roughest summer ferry crossing ever! It was horrendous. The noise when we were trying to sleep! It felt like the ferry was vertical and then came crashing down. Not trying to put you off or anything.

The kids used wristbands and DH took sickness tablets. Not sure they really helped much, but if it had been a bit calmer than perhaps they would have.

OldTinHat · 28/09/2022 22:47

As a resident of the Isle of Wight, ferries are cancelled if its too sunny, too rainy, the wind puffs up more than a gentle breeze, the tide is going the wrong way (whatever that means), if a member of staff's cat has died, they've run out of ketchup sachets or just because they feel like it.

That probably doesn't help but be glad you're not sailing with Wightlink or Red Funnel!

Thursa · 29/09/2022 01:40

I’m a poor traveller and I found those acupressure wrist bands to be much more helpful than I thought they would be.

DevaleraSpawnOfSatan · 29/09/2022 01:48

Ha Grin you have no idea, you need to do Holyhead to Dublin or vice versa just after Christmas and before New Year, I have been doing that route on and off for 34 for years, I now go to Dublin for the 22 of December and leave before New Year.

Do come back and tell us that all was well, because I will eat my hat if it is not.

FortunaMajor · 29/09/2022 05:40

I did that route in Force 9 gales and the sea was too rough to get into harbour at the other end.. It takes something extraordinary to cancel it.

ruthieness · 29/09/2022 05:46

Ginger biscuits help with sea sickness!

AnImaginaryCat · 29/09/2022 06:02

The fast ferries are cancelled in weather you might feel is OK (though probably a different story at sea.) But the larger boats aren't that often. They do have pretty impressive stabilisers now, so very different from years ago. That's not to say you won't get sea sickness. As mentioned Stugeron are good.

Also, seeing you're heading there so it's important you know, it's not 'southern Ireland'. Go with 'Republic of Ireland" or just 'Ireland

greenacrylicpaint · 29/09/2022 06:09

40mph winds are not unusual at sea and unless other factors are at play (extremely high or low tide for example) then the ferry will run.

I like plain buschits for sea sickness they are not too bad if they make their way back up

Zingy123 · 29/09/2022 06:16

It has to be extreme before they cancel. The last time we went Holyhead to Dun Laoughaire the bottles were falling off the shelves in duty free.

TightDiamondShoes · 29/09/2022 06:39

What @Zingy123 said - and unless the staff are puking, it’s not rough. 😂

greenacrylicpaint · 29/09/2022 07:03

for sea sickness I find anything that makes me burb (fizzi drinks etc) is a no.
usually we book a cabin, in rough seas I take straight to bed.
I have not found over the counter meds help me much. best is to stop the nausea from happening by laying down and munching biscuits

dudsville · 29/09/2022 07:10

I found this for you, "39-46 Mph 62-74 kph 34-40 knots Gale or Fresh Gale Twigs and small branches are broken from trees, walking is difficult. Moderately large waves with blown foam. 47-54 Mph 75-88 kph 41-47 knots Strong Gale Slight damage occurs to buildings, shingles are blown off of roofs."

BarrelOfOtters · 29/09/2022 07:12

The IoM route is one I do often. Stugeron and I have a nap at the other end if too sleepy to drive. I find if I take one about 8 hours before then 2 about 2 hours before I’m done with the sleepiness by the time I’m off the other end.

also get in middle of boat and lie down.