It’s smooth sailing on the Flyer

NAMED in memory of one of the fastest players in the history of the Cats, the Geelong Flyer yesterday undertook its maiden voyage in Corio Bay.

Bob Davis (right) got his nickname after the express train that ran from Melbourne to Geelong in 55 minutes in 1954.

While the new Geelong Flyer will take 100 minutes to do the same journey, its comfort levels far exceed the old express train.

Stepping aboard, its 403 passenger seats are spread over two floors, including 82 external seats on the rear top deck.

Some inside seats feature fold-down tables enabling those wishing to work on the journey to do so assisted by onboard Wi-Fi.

The ferry even includes free charging stations for those needing a quick battery top-up for their phone or laptop.

Comfort levels are further increased with a licensed onboard cafe serving hot drinks and food.

Yesterday’s test voyage was remarkably smooth, with none of the passengers needing to reach for the sick bags. In fact, chairman Paul Little said the vessel created less turbulence when operating at full speed than at slower speeds.

It’s easy to see the new service becoming a hit with tourists looking for a novel way to travel between Victoria’s two biggest cities.

The big question is whether at 100 minutes, the service resonates with commuters.

While the vessel can travel at full speed in Corio Bay and Port Phillip Bay, Mr Little said Port Phillip Ferries was in discussions about the relaxation of some historical speed limits along the Yarra River, further improving journey times.