Islanders facing three-day delay for a St Malo sailing

The expected force nine, 50mph winds in the Channel have led to the cancellation of all Condor’s high-speed ferry services running today.

While sailings to and from the UK were bolstered by extra services last night, no additional ferries appear to be running from France before Tuesday, leaving customers stranded on the Continent.

Frustrated customers took to social media to complain about the situation and difficulties in contacting the ferry company.

Sonia Hewitt was travelling with her family, including two children and her parents, when they got an email on Thursday night informing them of the change.

‘I fully appreciate the need for health and safety, and sailing within the parameters of wave heights, but cancelling our ferry home from France this Saturday and rebooking the six of us on the Tuesday sailing is ridiculous,’ she said.

‘We’ve tried to contact Condor by email, phone and the online chat but so far have nothing more than an automated promise of an email reply within three days.’

Her parents live in Belfast and so were due to fly home on Sunday from Guernsey, and now will be flying home from Nantes.

‘Their insurance company is covering the £850 cost of the flight, but we will have to find accommodation in St Malo for Monday as the ferry is at 8am.’

‘I do not profess to be able do a better job than the Condor CEO, but even I would think adding an ad-hoc sailing the day before or after would’ve been the best way forward. What frightens me is that this is becoming the norm.’

Another Condor passenger, who did not want to be named, said they were stuck in France and facing additional costs after their first family holiday in six years.

‘The price we’ve had to pay for hotel accommodation in France for the extra three nights has cost more than the two weeks we paid for our mobile home accommodation and that’s really made me cross,’ they said.

‘They do need to get their customer service centre better staffed for times like these, as trying to get hold of them is a nightmare.’

Condor was approached for comment.