New catamaran service between Lymington and Cowes

FIRST EVER WIGHTLINK COWES WEEK CATAMARAN SERVICE DIRECT TO COWES FROM LYMINGTON

Skandia Cowes Week sponsor Wightlink will run a special Lymington-Cowes catamaran service for the first time in its history throughout the 2003 sailing event. Aimed at both Cowes Week crews and spectators, the half-hour crossing on Wightlink’s new FastCat craft will run from 2nd-8th August to Thetis Wharf at the start of West Cowes town and an easy walking distance into the centre.

Six crossings will operate daily from Lymington, starting at 0730, and six will depart from Cowes with the last crossing back to the mainland scheduled at 1900. The return portion of the ticket can also be used on the Yarmouth/Lymington route for passengers who want to stay on for the evening. Return fares are priced at £12 for adults and £6 for children aged 5-15.

Wightlink Marketing Director Janet Saville says that the decision to divert one of its FastCat craft from the Portsmouth-Ryde Pier route was taken to support the organisers of Skandia Cowes Week. “They alerted us to the fact that many of the crews taking part in this year’s event are basing themselves in Lymington and will have to commute daily so a direct route to Cowes would be a real benefit to them.”

“Lymington is, itself, a centre for yachting and we know that there are many residents of the town and its surrounding area who would like to travel to Cowes as spectators during the event. As one of the event’s sponsors, it makes sense for us to lay on a service at a time of such high demand.”

“At the same time Isle of Wight residents can use the service from Cowes to enjoy a day out in Lymington or take a train into Bournemouth or Poole. And we carry bikes free too so cyclists can plan a day out in the New Forest,” she added.