Condor Ferries - Condor Voyager

BFMunchkin · Post by **BFMunchkin** » 06 Dec 2021 13:59

Former 'Normandie Express' now 'Condor Voyager' will be in Portsmouth this Tuesday (December 7th), docking at 12:00 Lunchtime. She will be in for temporary lay-up, most likely due to the weather.

george32 · Post by **george32** » 09 Dec 2021 13:35

Thanks Tony, I wondered what it was doing here.

BFMunchkin · Post by **BFMunchkin** » 09 Dec 2021 19:38

Condor Ferries 'Condor Voyager' on charter from Brittany Ferries seen in Portsmouth this week sheltering from the weather.

Condor Voyager is currently scheduled to depart this Saturday at 06:00

Images: Portsmouth International Port

Abbotsman · Post by **Abbotsman** » 05 Jan 2022 10:24

Condor Voyager sailed out of Poole into the Channel last night at 21:30hrs & returned about 03:00hrs.
Only doing around 12 knots according to AIS. Does she have issues?

khaines · Post by **khaines** » 05 Jan 2022 11:30

Difficulty finding scheduled departure times for Condor online, used to be a PDF which I went by, their timetable page on their website has been “under maintenance” for ages, difficult to find out scheduled arrivals and departures to go and get pics. Want to catch the Voyager. On Sunday, on their sailing updates, it said Lib was due out at 11.00 so was planning to to Sandbanks, only to find out, luckily before I went all the way over there, that she had left either 7.55 or 6.55 in the morning. Just cannot get my head round their schedules. Be nice to go over to Sandbanks and ferry watch, would bring a bit of normality back.

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 08 Jan 2022 19:28

According to Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, she's due to arrive Falmouth on Monday:

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 10 Jan 2022 16:18

Arrived Falmouth, approx 12:45 today, photo passing St. Anthony's lighthouse ... sorry about the poor image quality

tumnus2010 · Post by **tumnus2010** » 10 Jan 2022 23:16

khaines wrote: ↑05 Jan 2022 11:30 Difficulty finding scheduled departure times for Condor online, used to be a PDF which I went by, their timetable page on their website has been “under maintenance” for ages, difficult to find out scheduled arrivals and departures to go and get pics. Want to catch the Voyager. On Sunday, on their sailing updates, it said Lib was due out at 11.00 so was planning to to Sandbanks, only to find out, luckily before I went all the way over there, that she had left either 7.55 or 6.55 in the morning. Just cannot get my head round their schedules. Be nice to go over to Sandbanks and ferry watch, would bring a bit of normality back.

Barfleur will be back before you know it!

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 14 Jan 2022 18:59

Images from her dry docking:

All setup:

Flooded and ready:

Nearly there:

Looks tiny inside No 2 dry dock:

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 14 Jan 2022 20:02

She's in Dock# 2, not 3 as reported earlier, I'll try and post more images with her dried out tomorrow.

Also, to my knowledge, this is the first time Falmouth has ever accommodated what is essentially, a BF vessel?

khaines · Post by **khaines** » 14 Jan 2022 20:50

She looks so tiny in there!

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 16 Jan 2022 12:33

More images of her dried out:

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 07 Feb 2022 11:59

She was due to leave for Poole today at 11:59:

but something must've gone awry, she's now scheduled to depart for Poole 1600 Thursday:

I was going to try and get some photos of her leaving so I've been checking all afternoon, they updated Shipping movements about an hour ago... Mrs doji not happy, was supposed to be DIY'ing

colin · Post by **colin** » 07 Feb 2022 19:59

A friend here in St Malo will be part of her cabin crew this season, so we will get good feedback.

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 07 Feb 2022 20:29

It'll be good, A&P Falmouth always do a proper job

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 08 Feb 2022 08:58

Departure moved again, now scheduled to leave for Poole at 16:00 today:

Unfortunately I won't be able to get any images, got to go to work

5shortblasts · Post by **5shortblasts** » 08 Feb 2022 09:25

I never knew she had that wing under the middle bow section? Is that some form of hydraulically powered stabiliser in pitch?

Seems it would be damaged quite easy from semi submerged floating objects at service speed?

anyone got the intel?

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 08 Feb 2022 09:25

Plans changed once more, off straight to St. Malo now, and flying at 42 knots:

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 08 Feb 2022 20:29

5shortblasts wrote: ↑08 Feb 2022 09:25 I never knew she had that wing under the middle bow section? Is that some form of hydraulically powered stabiliser in pitch?

Seems it would be damaged quite easy from semi submerged floating objects at service speed?

anyone got the intel?

It does look very flimsy, but it must be fit for whatever its purpose... be interesting to hear exactly what it is there for

Post by **hhvferry** » 08 Feb 2022 20:57

It's a T-foil, part of her ride control system.
This journal article is mostly impenetrable technical speak but it gives an idea of what it does (click on 'Download full-text PDF' for the article in its full form with images)-

An Experimental Investigation of Ride Control Algorithms for High-Speed Catamarans Part 1: Reduction of Ship Motions

Post by **hhvferry** » 08 Feb 2022 21:08

Incat's website notes they've been used since hull 056 which was delivered in 2000 (the Volcan De Teno ex-Milenium). Condor Voyager is hull 057 so was an early adopter.

The world’s most effective ride control systems are installed on Incat Wave Piercing Catamarans to ensure passenger comfort and safety.

Since the year 2000 Incat vessels (from hull number 056) have been fitted with the revolutionary, award winning retractable T-foil, positioned at the aft end of the centre bow.

The T-foil is used in combination with two transom mounted trim tabs providing ride control forces equivalent to a pair of keel mounted T-foils ensuring a smooth ride in heavy seas.

The retractable T-foil is used only when it is needed, hence there is less drag to slow the ship, with resultant savings in fuel and less chance of the foil striking a submerged object.

The T-foil can be retracted in calm seas and the ride control system switched off. In moderate seas the ride control system is activated and only uses the trim tabs with the T-foil still stowed inside the ship. In high seas, the T-foil is deployed and the full capability of the
ride control system is brought to bear on maximising passenger comfort.

Vessels are also equipped with trim tabs, a hydraulically operated device to assist high speed craft to accelerate lift, reducing pitch
and roll, thus improving passenger-ride and comfort.

Flexible rubber mounts between superstructure and hull ensures a minimum of noise and vibration permeate the climate controlled passenger cabin, maintaining an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort.

colin · Post by **colin** » 10 Feb 2022 10:41

Trying again to post photo ...

Voyager in St Malo 9th February

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 14 Mar 2022 12:00

Looks like she's coming back for a quick visit

khaines · Post by **khaines** » 14 Mar 2022 17:18

There is a webcam in Falmouth, is there a likelihood of spotting her?

dojidave · Post by **dojidave** » 14 Mar 2022 18:05

https://www.falmouthharbour.co.uk/marit ... re/webcam/

It depends on where she docks, updated info looks like she's going to Queens North:

so there is a chance, but you never know, and if there's a change of plan and she ends up going into one of the dry docks there'll only be a glimpse for a short time