Storm Herminia blows in to disrupt sailings

Islanders were still clearing up after Storm Eowyn, when the latest weather system arrived.

Named by the Spanish meteorological service, Storm Herminia has been sweeping across the English Channel, with yellow wind and rain warnings in place yesterday and today for southern England.

For the second day, all Herm Trident sailings were cancelled. Sark Shipping cancelled its morning sailing, but did manage one rotation in the afternoon, with eight passengers braving the journey from Guernsey to Sark.

Condor Islander – a conventional ferry that can normally cope with rough conditions – had its UK rotations cancelled yesterday and it was expected to run a freight-only service today.

The Clipper was due to sail to France, but it was safely tied up in St Peter Port yesterday.

The Condor Goodwill freight boat also had its sailings early yesterday and this morning cancelled.

But UK newspapers did make it, with the Channel Chieftain V battling through the waves to arrive into St Peter Port just before 5am, before heading back to Jersey.

Iris Freight director David Nuth said the newspapers had been printed slightly earlier on Sunday and yesterday, which had allowed it to sail a little bit earlier.

‘It was not as bad as we expected,’ he said.

‘We take our time and make sure we get there.’

Yesterday the journey from Guernsey to Jersey – which normally takes two hours – took four.

He said he had recently received a letter from a Guernsey newspaper reader, who thanked the boat team for all their hard work.

‘It makes it all worthwhile,’ Mr Nuth said.

He said the sea conditions were not expected to get better until Thursday.

‘It’s going to be a challenge over the next couple of days,’ he said.

‘We just take it day by day.’

At the airport, there had been warning there would be air disruption, with Aurigny offering air passengers the chance to move their flights for free.

But all red-eye flights got away yesterday morning, including Alderney and Jersey services.

G-OATR has returned to service, after being missing from the schedules for more than two months. The plane – one of three ATRs owned by Aurigny – has been in France since mid-November undergoing maintenance. Its return was delayed due to a shortage of parts.

It finally flew back to Guernsey on Saturday, and returned to service yesterday, with services to Birmingham and London Gatwick.

It means the airline is now back up to a complement of four aircraft in service, with

G-OGFC now in France for servicing.