A Childhood Memory of the Condor Ferry

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There was always something special about spotting the Condor long before it reached Weymouth Harbour. Out in the distance it would appear as nothing more than a tiny speck on the horizon. Then, slowly but surely, it would grow larger and you would hear the unmistakable deep boom of its horn echoing across Weymouth Bay as it announced its impeding arrival.

As a child, it seemed almost impossible that something so enormous could fit through what looked like such a small harbour entrance. The giant catamaran dwarfed everything around it as it made its way towards the town, and I never grew tired of watching it arrive.

The best view, though, was from the sea itself. On a hot summer's day, with Weymouth Beach packed with families, the shallow water full of swimmers and bright yellow pedalos, seeing the Condor glide into the bay was quite a sight. It looked even bigger when you were bobbing about in the water, and I can still remember everyone stopping to watch as it approached the harbour.

Of course, watching the ferry was only part of the excitement. We often travelled on the Condor ourselves for day trips to Guernsey. During the summer there was usually enough time to enjoy five or six hours exploring the island, and if you planned it carefully you could even catch the little ferry across to Herm before returning for the journey home.

Even in the quieter winter months there were some fantastic offers. We'd sail over in the morning, spend a couple of hours wandering around Guernsey, enjoy a drink and something to eat before heading back to the harbour for the return sailing. It wasn't a long visit, but it always felt like a proper trip abroad.

One memory that always makes me smile was the announcement that the ferry had now left UK territorial waters and the duty-free shop was open. It seemed as though half the passengers immediately got to their feet and headed to the shop, hoping to grab a bargain before everyone else. It became part of every crossing and something we always looked forward to.

The crossing also had a habit of revealing who had good sea legs and who didn't. While some passengers happily wandered around the ferry, browsed the duty-free shop or enjoyed a drink, others preferred to stay very still and concentrate on the horizon whenever the Channel became a little rough. Anyone who regularly travelled on the Condor will probably remember seeing a few rather pale faces and people trying to maintain their balance as the journey went on!

Back in Weymouth, after the journey home, there was one last tradition. Rather than heading straight back to the car, we'd often stroll around the harbour for a while, watching the boats gently bobbing on the water and enjoying the atmosphere before finally making our way home.

For me, the Condor was far more than just a ferry. It was the beginning of countless adventures and one of those sights that became part of growing up in Weymouth. Even today, it's hard to look out across Weymouth Bay without remembering that tiny speck on the horizon slowly becoming the unmistakable shape of the Condor as it made its way towards the harbour. Condor Ferries became a familiar part of Weymouth life from the late 1980s, before expanding services from the town throughout the 1990s.

Do You Remember the Condor in Weymouth?

For many people, the Condor wasn't simply a ferry — it was part of growing up in Weymouth. Whether you remember watching it arrive in the bay, travelling to Guernsey or Jersey, hearing its unmistakable horn echo across the beach, or making use of the duty-free shop on board, we'd love to hear your memories.

Perhaps you remember the earlier boats, family day trips to the Channel Islands, waving goodbye from the harbour, or simply watching the giant catamaran squeeze through the harbour entrance on a sunny afternoon.

Or maybe you have other found memories of Weymouth's past. Whether it's holidays on the beach, Brewers Quay, Punch and Judy, the harbour, old shops, attractions, schools or growing up in the town, every story helps preserve Weymouth's history for future generations.

This memory forms part of our growing Weymouth & Dorset Memories project, where we're helping to preserve the stories, recollections and photographs that rarely make it into the history books. If you have your own memories to share please visit our Share Your Memories page and help keep Weymouth's past alive for future generations or email your memories to us below.

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Subject: My Weymouth Memories

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