Ferry's superfans set for 'sad farewell'

When the cross-Channel ferry Barfleur makes its final voyage in the autumn, it will be a sad moment for the enthusiasts for whom the vessel is more than just a car ferry.

Facing rising costs and falling passenger numbers, Brittany Ferries announced that it will sell Barfleur, the vessel which has served the Poole to Cherbourg route for more than 30 years.

With the Purbeck hills as a backdrop the 170m-long Barfleur is a regular sight as it glides across Poole Harbour, dwarfing the pleasure boats and yachts and the Sandbanks chain ferry, heading to and from the English Channel.

Among its regular users are self-confessed superfans who are preparing to bid a "sad" farewell to a much-loved vessel.

Named after the small fishing port in Normandy - the ferry entered service between Cherbourg and Poole in April 1992.

The ship was originally commissioned for Brittany Ferries' Truckline subsidiary for freight transport.

In 1999 it began to operate a traditional passenger ferry services, and was rebranded in Brittany Ferries colours.

As the admin of the Brittany Ferries Fans Facebook group, George Holland describes himself as a ferry "fanatic".

He remembers starting family holiday trips on board Barfleur while growing up in Lyme Regis.

Since then he has frequently taken advantage of the £30 passenger day ticket to sail to Cherbourg, spend a few hours in the French town before boarding the return crossing.

"It's such a beautiful crossing - the scenic beauty of navigating Poole Harbour, the stunning departure passing Old Harry Rocks," he said.

He harks back to the time when Brittany Ferries' catchline was "Crossing becomes cruising"

"Some are a bit disparaging about Barfleur, saying it's in a 90s timewarp, but that was the best era.

"It's still got a bit of chic - well maintained internally and looks good. It's just a lovely experience."

On one of his recent trips, the captain, Nicolas Bohn, noticed his social media posts and invited him to the bridge.

Brittany Ferries blamed rising taxes and Covid loan repayments, as well as falling passenger numbers for the decision to sell the vessel.

"It's going to be very much missed, but in my heart of hearts I knew in these harsh realities, it wasn't going to be sustainable."

"People have fallen out of love with ferry travel.

"This is final - there will be no reprieve," Holland said.

Sylvain Pierre was a university student in 1995 when he got a job as a cleaner on board Barfleur "as a way of improving my English".

Living near Cherbourg at the time, he recalls the impact the arrival of the Barfleur on the cross-Channel route.

"It was a new big ferry - it was great news for Cherbourg at the time. It looked modern, big and a great link between our two countries," he said.

Having regularly sailed the Poole-Cherbourg route, he said he still enjoys meeting former colleagues from the crew when he working on board.

He was so taken with the ferry that he went on to build a model of the vessel from plywood, fibreglass and plastic.

The 1.5m-long 1:100 scale model has "many working mechanisms inside" and took him a year and a half to complete.

"I'll be very sad, honestly, when it goes, it was a big part of my life when I was young," he said

Giles Stuart has travelled on Barfleur "dozens" of times since first making the relatively short four-hour-45-minute crossing for a French driving holiday in 1994.

"Barfleur always felt so special and slightly different from most ferries.

"It was absolutely awesome - the quality of the finishings in the interior, with teak handrails, very comfortable cabins and vast deck space. The food was fastastic.

"The service was always brilliant - the crew were so friendly - you could tell they really loved the ship."

On a foggy morning, he would listen for the sound of Barleur's fog horn as it crosses Poole Harbour when he lived in Wimborne.

"I can recall one summer evening being at an opera on Brownsea Island - although it was a wonderful experience, the highlight was the distinct sound of the engines of the Barfleur going past," he said.

"Many of us shall be heartbroken to see this much-loved ship leave Poole," he added.