GUESTBOOK

What a great memory!

I was 8 year old on when I travelled on Sarnia from Weymouth to Jersey and returning on Caesarea in the summer holidays of 1975.

I remember running along its wooden boat deck (A deck) with the other children on board, visiting E deck thinking it was a might noisy place, I remember being frustrated at not being tall enough to see out of her E-deck windows, which were just above the waterline. I managed a few glimpses. Many gentlemen standing like guardsmen looking out of the windows didn’t come to my help, and all the seats were non moveable.

I remember chatting to a guy with binoculars sitting on Sarnia’s starboard A-deck and he showed me a submarine conning tower that has surfaced and traveling parallel with us, this was my first time seeing a submarine.

The guys in the café would give us bread to throw to the gulls followed the stern, only disappointed when her sister ship passed in the opposite direction and most of the gulls would break off their pursuit and follow the other ship as if to head back for England.

I remember my father being ticked off by an officer for sitting on the railings at the back of A-deck.

I would like to say a big thank you for putting this site together, and keeping the memories alive of Sarnia and Caesarea.

From: Carolyn (Wed 9th Dec 2009 at 20:35)

My first memory of these ships are travelling to Jersey from Guernsey in 1962 in rough weather and being rushed by my mum to the loos as I felt sick! Remember the metal step you had to climb over (presumably the door seal) to get in there!!

One really rough trip from Weymouth to Guernsey c1968 was so bad the cash till in the bar/restaurant area was thrown to the floor and ambulances waited in Guernsey to take the really poorly passengers off. Thank goodness we now have air travel!!

From: Darren Davey (Tue 8th Sep 2009 at 20:56)

I travelled on both the Caesarea and Sarnia on my familys trips to Jersey from 1974 onwards. My Dad was rail staff as I am now, and we used to travel on the night service both ways. As a 4-5 year old these trips started my interest in ferries that has lasted to this day.
I also travelled on the Caesarea when she was moved to Dover and made a few trips to Boulogne.
Great memories of great ships

From: Ian McCaig (Sat 18th Jul 2009 at 12:37)
Website: http://shipnostalgia.com

Sailed on the Sarnia as a/b in early 70's. Had a good time some good ship mates often wonder where they all ended up.

From: Nigel Smith (Sun 12th Jul 2009 at 14:07)

I was an AB on the Caesarea for a couple of months in the early seventies, this was during the winter months and it was a pretty grim job having to weekend in Guernsey. Being a deep sea man it was just too cold for me so I went back deep sea. My memories of the ship were ones of poor food, poor accomodation and poor money. The vehicles were craned aboard in those days. Most of the crew lived in Weymouth so the ship was a bit of a ghost ship as they all went home. No doubt it was a great job if you lived in Weymouth or the Channel Islands. I have a framed photograph of the Caesarea in my lounge, not sure why? Perhaps its because I can look at it if I'm feeling a bit down and say to myself "worse things can happen at sea!". The other ships I remember from the time, were the Moose, Elk, Sarnia and Selby.

From: Paul Ferbrache (Tue 30th Jun 2009 at 19:55)

Wow, what a great site. I remember travelling to the uk on the Sarnia as a young child in the early seventies with my parents. If I remember correctly they craned the cars on one at a time and the ship sailed at midnight.

From: Martyn Wherry (Sun 31st May 2009 at 15:34)

Wow! This site has taken me back 40 years as having moved as a 4 year old child to England from Guernsey, we made regular trips back there always on the Sarnia or Caesarea. One Christmas trip to Guernsey still haunts me and will live with me forever when we sailed from Weymouth in a force 9 gale overnight and it took 8 hours to get there! A childhood nightmare! They even separated the men from the women onto two separate decks I believe as there were people laid out everywhere! Anyway, I'm still here to tell the tale so I guess the Sarnia was a good ship for its day! Thank God they don't roll like that anymore.

From: Simon Parton (Wed 28th Jan 2009 at 20:16)
Website: http://www.myspace.com/simonparton

As a child I travelled several times with my parents on both Caesarea and Sarnia from Weymouth to St Peter Port in Guernsey during the mid 1960's. One time we were fortunate to see the MV President Garcia shipwrecked on the Guernsey coast.
We came back from Guernsey one rough day in late 1967 on Sarnia. Needless to say she triumphantly battled through some very rough seas to take us safely back to Weymouth. Though I must admit the site of Portland Bill lighthouse was very welcome!
Great memories of two very special ships.

From: Dee (Sun 28th Dec 2008 at 13:12)

The latest virtual picture of the B-deck lobby is amazing! So realistic. Can't wait to see more.

From: kevin davis (Sun 30th Nov 2008 at 08:52)

i joined this ship in july 1976 as an assistant cook and served with sealink till 1991 good old days

From: CS (Mon 13th Oct 2008 at 23:09)
Website: http://www.capriblinds.co.uk

As young lad I travelled on both the Ships , probably in the late sixties .

I well remember the engine noise , and smoke . The ships used to roll about well in bad weather !

I have a badge of the Caesarea , bought on board , which I still have today!

Great memories relived at this site . Good work !

From: Dee (Tue 5th Aug 2008 at 15:34)

Well done on a wonderful site. Every so often I re-visit it to look at my favorite ships.

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