- Strong winds and large swells continue to disrupt Cook Strait ferry sailings, causing cancellations and delays.
- Passengers faced long waits and rough crossings, with some experiencing seasickness.
- KiwiRail is rebooking affected passengers, but delays are expected to persist.
Ferry passengers travelling across Cook Strait continue to experience disruptions this week as strong winds and large swells impact sailings.
Several Interislander and Bluebridge crossings were cancelled over the weekend, and others faced significant delays due to rough sea conditions.
A KiwiRail spokesperson said Sunday night’s sea conditions were worse than forecast, and the masters of the Kaitaki and the Kaiārahi delayed their departures to wait for the rough weather to ease.
“This unfortunately means further delays to our schedule,” they said.
The Kaiārahi’s departure from Wellington has been delayed until 12.30 pm today, and the Kaitaki’s departure from Picton until 2pm today.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is paramount and we do not sail unless it is safe to do so.”
The spokesperson said KiwiRail will do all it can to re-book people as quickly as possible on alternative sailings.
MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor says that while the swells are starting to ease, conditions remain challenging for crossings.
“The good news is that the swell is easing, but there are still big waves in there today and swells of about 4 metres.
“There’s still quite a strong southerly blowing through. That’s 75-kilometre southerly winds, showers as well. So all in combination, not a pleasant crossing if we do get across today.”
Interislander passenger Sarah Franks spent much of the night waiting in her car before finally sailing on the Kaitaki, leaving for Picton in the wee hours of the morning, and said the crossing was so rough when they finally began sailing that people were vomiting.
Franks, who is driving from Auckland to Christchurch, said she hoped Interislander would cancel the crossing and let her go back to her hotel.
”We were all just waiting parked up at the ferry terminal waiting. The sailing was [scheduled for] 8.30pm and we left at 1 in the morning.”
She said some people were walking their dogs around the terminal and children were running around.
She said it seemed people accepted the weather was out of anybody’s control.
She said the sailing was “really rough”.
”It was very windy, and it was rough trying to get out of Wellington Harbour.
”Then it just got really rough through the Cook Strait.
”Lots of people were sick. We were instructed to sit down. No one was really allowed to stand up unless they were moving to go to the toilet.
”The crew were giving passengers cups of water, ice and sick bags.
”People weren’t very happy at that stage, I don’t think, with the big swells.”
She was planning to continue driving from Picton to Canterbury, but was very tired and considering trying to find accommodation in Picton to get a rest tonight.
Discover more
O’Connor says the rough conditions are due to a low-pressure system to the east of the country.
“That’s been what is bringing all the colder, showery weather and that same wind direction for a longer time - it just builds up those waves.
“Tomorrow things will settle down over most of the country … It’s still cold, unfortunately.”
The rough weather forced Interislander to cancel the sailings of the Aratere out of Wellington at 6.15am today, and 11am from Picton.
Impacted passengers have been rebooked onto other sailings, almost all within 24 hours of their original bookings, a KiwiRail spokesperson said.
Interislander advised passengers to prepare for seasickness, recommending sitting toward the rear of the ship, avoiding an empty stomach, and considering seasickness remedies such as ginger ale or pills.
On Sunday night, delays were widespread.
The Kaitaki, carrying more than 800 passengers, was scheduled to leave Wellington at 8.30pm but faced a delay of over four hours.
According to an email sent to passengers at 10pm, Interislander explained the hold-up was due to “rougher sea conditions than forecast”.
“We will be commencing loading asap but will not be leaving Wellington until the Master is comfortable to depart … this could be at least 4 HRS.”
The Kaitaki eventually departed around 1am, according to the ship tracking website MarineTraffic.com.
Meanwhile, the Kaiarāhi, with 500 passengers aboard, was also delayed, leaving Picton just before midnight.
Delays are expected to disrupt schedules for the next few days, with passengers being informed of updated departure times directly.
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.