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From the website:
Ferries to the Isle of Wight
Your Fastest Ferry Link from Portsmouth (Southsea) to the Isle of Wight (Ryde)
Hovertravel provides the fastest Isle of Wight ferry route across the Solent and is the world’s only year round passenger hovercraft service. Our passenger ferry service takes you directly to the shore at Southsea or Ryde in just 10 minutes. Easy onward travel connections are available with our Hoverbus to Portsmouth, bus and train connections at Ryde plus large car parks at both terminals. Hovertravel - The 10 minute ferry link to the Isle Of Wight.
How Do You Fly a Hovercraft?
A hovercraft is not like a boat and not really like a plane, so what is it like to ‘fly’ a hovercraft? Because a hovercraft is supported by a cushion of air it is not affected by the tides in the way that a boat would be, the lack of contact with the ground gives the hovercraft the ability to move in any direction, easily sliding sideways or backwards with little resistance.
This presents a unique challenge for the ‘Hovercraft Pilot’ to be able to take advantage of these unique abilities, whilst at the same time keeping the hovercraft under control in all weathers, choppy seas, in both day and night-time as well as over land!
Therefore, ‘Hovercraft Pilots’ have to undergo specialist training before they are able gain the qualifications to become a Captain on this type of vessel.
How Do You Lift The Hovercraft Up?
The Hovercraft has two engines, one on either side (Port and Starboard). Each engine drives a propeller as well as a set of two lift fans situated on the side decks.
These fans are powered directly from the engine, as the engine gets faster, the fans turn faster, so as the Pilot increases the power, the craft will lift off the ground. At full power the hovercraft will be 1.6 metres above the surface it is hovering over and friction will be reduced to almost nothing. This system allows the Pilot to control the speed of the hovercraft by reducing the power to increase friction, causing the hovercraft to slow down and eventually stop.
The skirt of the hovercraft will not only trap the air in order to maintain the ‘hover height’ but also provide a natural stability, keeping a constant air pressure even during rough seas, keeping the hovercraft clear of waves or other obstacles.
How Does The Hovercraft Move?
The Hovercraft is fitted with two very large propellers which are also driven directly from each engine. These provide a great deal of thrust to push the hovercraft forwards, the propellers are housed in ducts which improve the efficiency of the propellers, particularly at low speed and when accelerating.
Because these are variable pitch propellers, each blade of the propeller can swivel, this allows the Pilot to control the amount of thrust being generated without changing the engine speed. Therefore the amount of thrust can be constantly controlled without affecting the all-important lift air supply. Another advantage of variable pitch propellers is that the Pilot has the option to use reverse thrust, pushing the hovercraft backwards, making this type of hovercraft one of the most manoeuvrable ever built.