New sailing times for Sark boats

SARK Shipping's timetable has been changed because the Bon Marin has gearbox problems and has been taken out of service.

The company has chartered a passenger vessel from the south of England, but changes to the schedules have been made because the replacement is slower than the Bon Marin.

Sark Shipping has warned prospective travellers, particularly those with connecting onward journeys, to check the company's website or its telephone helpline (12036 from the Bailiwick only) for up-to-date sailing times.

Director Julie Mann warned that the amended scheduling could last up to three weeks because both of the Bon Marin's gearboxes had been returned to the manufacturer.

'We were able to remove them easily because they are self-contained units,' she explained. 'In the meantime, we've chartered the Bournemouth Belle, which takes a bit longer to do the journey - hence the need to slightly alter the sailing times.

'This means that it is extremely important for travellers with connecting flights or boats to ensure that they have enough time to meet those connections.'

A gearbox problem to the Bon - as she's affectionately known to those who travel on her regularly - just a week or so into school summer holidays could not have come at a worse time for Sark's tourism industry and the island's shipping company.

From where I'm sitting, it seems that Sark Shipping could not have done a great deal more and for all I know was quite possibly fortunate in being able to charter an appropriately-sized vessel at this time of the year.

It might be helpful to add that although I am sure the majority of them are already doing so, hoteliers, guesthouse proprietors and those who run self-catering units should ensure that all their guests are aware of the temporary changes to sailing times. It might save a few tears, not to mention some less-than-favourable publicity.

Despite the occasional ripple of activity - those I've witnessed include one or two references in Chief Pleas (along with the promise of a bit of cash) and a largely unheralded visit of a couple of handfuls of some of our Norman cousins - the plans to twin Sark with the small village of Port Bail on the Normandy coast seem to be in limbo.

That seems to me to be a great pity because what I've seen elsewhere suggests that communities such as Sark's have a good deal to offer - and indeed learn from - twinning arrangements, and particularly so if the arrangements are somehow formalised.

I mention this not to try to breathe life into the Port Bail idea - if it's dead in the water, then that's it - but because earlier this week I was chatting in The Avenue to Ken Vibert, who for over 17 years has been Constable of the Jersey parish of St Ouen.

Ken, who was in Sark for a few days with his wife Beryl, told me that he was due to meet Seneschal Reg Guille during his stay and added that he intended discussing the possibility of the island twinning with the parish of St Ouen.

'It should have happened many years ago - it could have in 1965 when Sark celebrated the 400th anniversary of the colonisation by Helier de Carteret, the then Seigneur of St Ouen, but it was either not thought of or not pursued,' said Ken. 'I think there remains a great affinity between the two communities and would love to see much closer links through twinning.'

Closer links with anyone does nothing but good.

* The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net