Looks like a nice day to take the channel tunnel 😬. Blessings from New Orleans

Thank you for recording your exciting trip! I like that your camera remained trained on the bow for the duration.

I've recently done Caen and back on a millpond - slightly different but thanks for posting as I, like many others, have had some horrors. Great video.

never forget some of the Plymouth to roscoff sailings when I was younger. One year, they cancelled the ferry the day/night before as it was a force 11, but sailed the following as went down to a 10. Waiting at the port before loading was the most scariest thing, you couldn't even open the car door the wind was so strong and you could smell the sick even before reaching the ferry from the previous crossing. It was an hour delay just 'cleaning up the ferry' :0! I definitely choose my crossing wisely now

On Christmas Eve, I heard the shipping forecast to Ireland was bad, 2016,and googled, and heard of a tragedy in a Gale in the Irish Sea...1953, the Princess Victoria. There were 133 people [women and children all died] lost, and maybe two more, as they were soldiers 'smuggled' aboard, so were not on the manifest. Reading and seeing footage on this Tragedy is very moving..the ship's design, the Captains' decision to sail in the teeth of a ferocious Gale with the design of the ship [open at the stern, which was just 5 foot 6inches tall] The scuppers were inadequate for draining of the sea water.. the list goes on.. the Telegraph Operator kept at his post, and because of this, the 44 survivors were hauled out of the cold January seas in sleety conditions..

It would be very uncomfortable to ride them sideways. The main risk is that cars and trucks on the car deck could shift and make the vessel more unstable. But for it to capsize there would need to be an inflow of water.

That was a rough crossing!!! The roughest that I have been on was in a gale force 9 between Holyhead & Dublin. I have also been on a crossing from Boulogne to Dover where a wave has hit the bow and gone over the ferry and soaked everyone on the stern deck. That was rough.

When my Dad was young he was on a ferry going across the bay of Biscay and it was so rough you could slide from one side of the playroom to another (when the waves were at the correct angle of course).

In 63 years l have no idea how many crossings l have made but there have been very many memorable ones on all lines, one notable was Dover to Ostende when failed engines left us drifting in some big waves, there was very little crockery left on board. Another was a force 9 gusting 11 Zebrugge to Dover in pitch black and helped into Dover by tugs...............best laxative known to man!

Many moons ago I was on a ferry crossing the channel home bound with my mother and father when a very bad storm hit the paddle steamer we were on. The glass in the front saloon was smashed and an upright piano and tables torn loose. We were moved to the rear saloon but shortly after that the bearing housing on one of the paddles tore loose and the paddle stopped. I think the crew kept the head of the ship into the storm using the remaining paddle wheel. A tug was sent from Portsmouth which seemed bigger than the ferry we were on. Eventually we were towed into Portsmouth. Several people had been hurt but as far as I remember nobody died. This is all very vague as I was only about 7 years old. It may well have been that terrible 1953 storm, I could be wrong of course. There were ambulances and cameras all over the place. It was on the BBC TV, in black and white. I can find no record of the above or even the name of the paddle steamer. It had been at Dunkirk as the dents from bullets had a brass plaque next to them. If anyone can help with any information I would be very grateful.

Great video thank you !

Love it! ... travel a lot on the channel.... good video..

The only reassurance is how relaxed the captain sounds......

I like how the flag on the bow is blowing perpendicular to the ship's track yet many of the waves are still coming in from an angle. A few waves actually seem to be from left to right. The sea looks confused relative to the wind direction.

Yes, great video, thanks a ton

I love it when crossings are like this, when the whole ship shudders yet you know it will be fine. :D Though I've never been in waves this big. ENVY!

God I hopped the channel on this ferry more times than I can remember and never once felt in danger or even scared! Ahh good times.

On my 1st week working i had a force 9 and thought it was a regular occurance.. Im used to this weather by now..

Great video, and nice to see the old girl in action. The Pride of Dover was more comfortable than most in this sort of weather.

@fangbe2 It is indeed, I remember one time when the Pride of Dover left harbour. We had only slight seas but as soon as she hit a wave and she shook people started panicking

It will be interesting to see how the Spirit Class holds up in this weather, i travel on the Spirit Class 2 times a month now, and she is a fantastic ship, but we haven't been on her in bad weather yet

Oh s a lovely video and the capt. has a voice of confidence. Always love when the ship does the rollings but never liked the smashing and crashing,perhaps its just my instinct telling me its all very wrong.but its how it goes in storms hehe. Never really understood the point of peoples panic either, you are stuck onboard jus do the best of it and try enjoy something spectacular as the force of nature in your daily life. love the videos!!

Some of the sounds made it appear the ship was breaking up... I would have been very frightened indeed.

Really interesting video.. that cannot have been fun At All waiting that out 😳

No idea why this is recommended to me nearly 13 yrs later but yeah, that looks pretty rough!

Thank God for Le Shuttle.

The Calais and her sister,the pride of Dover were the best 2 ships p&o ever had.shame they went to India to be scrapped😢

Was that in the cafe, sounds like the cups and plates are going for it when she has a stomp into the next one

I wonder if Eurotunnel ever gets a little smug each time the weather on the Dover Straits gets really violent.

Looks bearable up until 5.33.Wouldnt have liked to have been stuck aboard that.Good video though enjoyed watching.

Spare a thought for the Fishermen who work in sea conditions much worse that those portrayed in this video.

nice video :)

Wow even though the waves are big the camera seems to remain steady! Is that the ships stabilisers kicking in then?

We did a really rough crossing Dieppe/Newhaven on a tiny ex steamer ferry [1969] and thank goodness we were able to dock, maybe as the ferry was so small [Falaise] Offering free food and drink? maybe not many takers-poor staff having to clean up after seasick passengers! the falaise had carpets in the bar-horribly stained from other rough crossings-ferries need to be hose-downable, I would imagine!

@7:47 that's a bit of a moment, I know these ships are designed to take a pounding from the waves, but shots like that , don't really send your mind reassuring thoughts.,,

I cant understand, why did she avoid sailing and hove in the downs to shelter in the heavy weather ? Because, her total length is 170 meters long, so It is big enough as same as an ocean liner. I guess, If she continued slow navigation, She could cross the channel. Maybe P & O does not fix the loaded vehicle with some chains? The waters around Japan in winter season are very rough almost every day, but long-distance car ferries fix the loaded vehicles with some chains, so it operates without those problems.

Interesting film

Yep it is but we were stuck along the coast during the day and it was dark by the time we could enter the port.

I did this Journey a Week later on the Pride of Canterbury? And that was Rough! On the Way back we were on this Ship, and it was even worse then, as we had a Severe Thunderstorm Following Us. I am doing this Journey again in October. Let's just Say, I Hope it Never Happens Again! As, I'm not too Keen on Boats :D

I'm stunned that the flag and the pole it was on didnt disappear in the water..especially the flag

wow, awesome!

just check a picture of this ship (that has been scrapped in 2012), look at the fore part and you will guess that this soap box was not designed for open sea

my crossing yesterday was rough too. Several people around me startet to vomit.

How can they close the port when ships are inbound? Aren't ships in a lot more danger riding out a storm in the open seas? If the ship starting sinking, would the port master just say, "tough luck"?

oh my gawd i can feel myself going green in the face watching this, i bet there was some puking on this ferry

Was that another ship straight ahead ? 4:53

If I had to choose I'd take heavy turbulence and storms at 30,000 feet over this every time!

This reminds of school trips (school in Bearsted, then Maidstone) and about 25% of the kids being sick on the coach and another 25% being sick on the ferry 🤣🤣

I have a question for the experts. Obviously the ship must point straight into the waves to keep it as stable as possible, but if the ship was side on in those waves would it risk capsizing ?

was any car damaged in the storm?

Some pure earthbound rat from central Europe here. I'm getting seasick just from seeing this video. But still I'd love to cruise on this little beauty.

So what happens to everybody if the ship sinks?

Wow that is rough!!!

My late Mom and friends had a gawd awful Irish Sea crossing in the 90s...

Great footage!! Nostalgia taking this Ferry! Is it possible for me to use and share this footage on my youtube page? I share footage from all kind of activities on our ocean. Cargo ships in the 1960s till now, oil rigs, fishing vessels, etc. Of course full credit will be given to the owner of the footage. Looking forward to your reply. Kind regards. Cheers.

I'm surprised that you pulled through this one without doing a technicolour yawn - or maybe you did!

yes this is nothing. I was out in a strom 12 for 30+hrs on the Burgandy. Calais loaded us with 1400 capacity full well knowing Dover was closed. Wasn't frightning, just frustrating as we had to look after lots of scared, sick people. Sat on Deal Downs all night listing everytime we turned, was good fun coming in the breakwater with no stabilizers until we learnt someone had died on the Provance falling down the stairs!

Now would you sail with the joke outfit today? Channel Tunnel for me from now on

I did the crosing 350 x's (!!) I Drove bigrigs back in the 90;s

My uncle worked on these cross channel ferries. Before that, he sailed all around the world. I don’t have any idea how he did it. I’m definitely a land lubber Weren’t there any announcements in French?

Happy memories at sea for 51 years , now a landlubber 😂😂😂

@gloomyoutlook Purely for the fact that trying to dock, let alone enter the port, is dangerous with high-winds. It's much safer to ride out the storm at sea, and usually Ferry companies are as accommodating as they can be - usually offering free food and drinks here and there.

it looks so funny when all the people on board are in panic

i would of loved to been on that

I been stuck out there in worse condition than this in year 2000 in February time i thought i was neva cumin bak i phoned home sed gudbye to family this sea can be very bad wen it chooses too

Is that boat pitching at all? Video doesn't really show that

This was high seas I am wonder about the safety of the bow opening (they have Haven't they??)This was the reason Estonia sank.........

Clarkson at the bridge: POOOOOOOOOOOOOWEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR

Storm??? Try the NorthLink from Aberdeen to Lerwick ...in January 😈

Portsmouth - Santander in a storm will test your metal

Thank god for the unrealiable service which has on several occasions broke down in the middle of the tunnel and has remained there for over thirteen hours?

The only thing missing for me to enjoy would be a nice greasy English breakfast and loads of toast !

Exept the amount of seasick people and the smell of vomit (poor guys haha), I absolutely love to cross the channel when it's like that. Ferries are so big I've never felt in danger.

Meh, this is nothing for us who work on these ferries ;)

must have been un-nerving

sHOULD A PASSANGER FIND THEMSLVES IN SUCH ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS and find them a bit TUMMY RATTLING TRY TO FIND THE NEAREST centre point of the Ship. It's not a boat it's a ship. Th centre point being the middle or nearest point between the the bow and stern. Upper deck and lower deck or Plimsoll line ' Where the ship line meets the sea/water. A the nearest point PORT (Left side ) and starboard side ( Right hand Side ) You will find that this has the least movement 'Rock'n Roll' ( NO NOT ELVIS) in bad/adverse weather conditions. Less sickness feeling. If you are unsure look for the Ships Plan, usually there is one on each level.

The Pride Of Dover's been scrapped now

Shout out to the flag, good job son

The Atlantic Ocean run right up the English channel..................Novemeber is mid winter...not the best time to be in it with a boat.

Hey that looks cool. I would love to have been on that boat that day.. I sailed on that ship many times its like the titanic. Un sinkable. Lol.NAH its designed to sail in bad weather when the captain shits a brick then i shit one. Hes voice is calm he knows his ship. Its all under control all in a days work.

Nice

These barges handle the weather well.

You have really very good fake soundeffects inserted.

OMG THAT HAPPENED ON MY FERRY TOO! (P&O) ALMOST THREW UP.

And now you know what happened to the Spanish Armada

yet another reason I prefer the Tunnel......

I bet the cleaners earned their money on its return to port!

hey u got more for your money xD

That ship's had more hammer than Katie Price! I wouldn't ride her.

Lastime I went on one it was very disappointing. Rundown, not a patch on the 80s

Tis but a mite choppy

I would have stayed home

does anyone else feel sorry for that flag? its absolutley terrified!!

that poor little flag out there feel sick just watching lol

bet that cost the ferry company,makes me laugh,has happend to me captain set's sail knowing full well there's bad weather mid channel thinks hell make it across cos he gets a bollocking off po if he decides to sit it out,in port,just another disaster waiting to happen.never mind the folks on board time is money

Holy shit, i hate boat's.

Amazing! But not for me...

The ship should not have sailed with those gale warnings........................hardly customer care.!

You heard the captain "Hove to in the downs!!!" Now quit bellyaching about your hot buttered cinnamon buns getting cold. Every man on deck. Get your harpoons at the ready! I think I see the great white whale. If we find him and kill him I'll see that every man jack will receive a double portion of grog. AARGGHHH!