Guernsey family stranded in UK after ferry cancellations

The family were due to travel back to Guernsey on 26 December originally

A family from Guernsey has been stranded in the UK for more than a week due to cancelled ferry services.

Condor Ferries has had to cancel ferries due to strong winds and bad weather, and book passenger returns later than expected.

Marie-Claire O'Connor said delay had already cost her family a lot of money.

The ferry company said it was planning to run two sailings on Wednesday night from Portsmouth, and one each from Portsmouth and Poole on Thursday.

The family were originally set to sail back to Guernsey on 26 December, but were told on 24 December the ferry had been cancelled due to bad weather.

After several further cancellations due to bad weather caused by Storm Henk, the family have now been told they can travel on Thursday 4 January on Condor Ferries' Liberation, sailing from Poole.

Additional costs

Due to the cancellations and having to book accommodation and pay for food and other things, Mrs O'Connor said they had had a 10-day delay which had "cost us more than what our actual holiday was in total".

She added: "We've also had to pay for food, petrol, entertaining the kids - we've had nowhere to wash our clothes and that since we left the other accommodation ... this is the seventh place we've stayed since we've been away."

Her husband, Jamie O'Connor, said: "What should have been a lovely time around Christmas has just ended in disruption.

"We're not the only family affected. Obviously you've got France and Jersey being affected as well; they've had cancelled sailings all the way through the festive period."

'Unpredictable conditions'

Condor Ferries said: "The continuing spell of strong winds up to 65mph and 7m waves caused by Storm Henk is causing disruption for rail, air and ferry operators across the British Isles.

"We are therefore rescheduling and cancelling conventional and high speed sailings today and tomorrow morning.

"Whilst conditions are unpredictable, the weather forecast suggests an improvement during Wednesday.

"We therefore intend, provided it is safe to do so, to operate Goodwill and Islander overnight tomorrow from Portsmouth, Clipper on Thursday morning; and an additional Liberation sailing from Poole is also planned for Thursday."

The company said passengers and freight clients affected were being notified and rebooked subject to availability.

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