Poole-Cherbourg route celebrates 50 years

Following her  overhaul in Gdansk and subsequent winter lay-up along the Caen canal in France, Barfleur (1992/20,133gt) restarted Cherbourg-Poole sailings on 31 March 2023.

This year the route is marking its 50th year of operation, having started as Truckline’s freight-only service on 29 June 1973, and it is believed the route has operated every year since.

Passenger services were added in 1986 following Brittany Ferries takeover of Truckline.

This season Barfleur makes a daily morning departure from Poole with either an evening or overnight return sailing from Cherbourg, and will once again be joined at peak times by the Austal-built HSC Condor Liberation (2010/6,307gt).

Photo of Barfleur leaving Poole for Cherbourg on 3 April, and report, by Kevin Mitchell