Rocking and rolling

High winds force nearly two-hour docking delay for P.E.I. ferry, stranding two Island musicians, crew

Passengers aboard the 2:45 p.m. ferry crossing from Nova Scotia to P.E.I. were treated to a surprise musical performance to launch the Festival of Small Halls on Friday.

Then they got a second, notso-pleasant surprise.

The MV Holliday Island was unable to dock in Wood Islands due to weather conditions, stranding the passengers offshore for nearly two hours past the ferry’s scheduled arrival time of 4 p.m.

P.E.I. entertainers Todd MacLean and his father-in-law, Gordon Belsher, were providing music for both the 1 p.m. crossing from Wood Islands and the return voyage from Caribou, N.S., as an informal kick-off for the Festival of Small Halls. MacLean reached The Guardian by phone just after 5 p.m. He said around 4 p.m., when he expected the ferry to be pulling into the docks, it didn’t happen. Looking out the windows, he said he couldn’t see land at all. MacLean said the crossing was a rough one, in general, due to the high winds.

“We joked that we were playing rock and roll, and everyone was rocking and rolling all over the deck.”

MacLean says the mood on the ferry was upbeat throughout the delay, and the Holiday Island staff offered complimentary coffee and tea to the passengers as they waited. An announcement was made that the arrival in Prince Edward Island would be delayed, but MacLean said it made no mention of when the ship would be moving again.

The Guardian reached a spokesperson for Northumberland Ferries who said the wind had died down by around 5:45 p.m., allowing the Holiday Island to start moving again. MacLean sent word just before 6 p.m. that the ferry had docked. When an announcement was made that passengers could return to their vehicles, MacLean said everyone applauded.

The Northumberland Ferries spokesperson said the winds were blowing around 50 km/h on the strait, which was a higher wind speed than what was forecast. Northumberland Ferries Ltd. cancelled its 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. sailings from Caribou, as well as the 7:30 p.m. crossing from Wood Islands.

SUBMITTED PHOTO P.E.I. musicians Gordon Belsher, right, and his son-in-law Todd MacLean, second from right, were stranded off P.E.I. Friday afternoon after high winds prevented the MV Holiday Island from docking for nearly two hours. Othe left are MacLean’s parents,...