RED Funnel is celebrating 50 years of continuous high-speed service between Southampton and West Cowes this year.

As nostalgia of the anniversary sets in, the original IW ferry company has delved into its extensive archives to explore how its high-speed ferries have changed over the years and decades.

Over the past 50 years, Red Funnel has welcomed 13 high-speed ferries into its fleet to serve the 11.7 miles route, starting with the hydrofoil Shearwater ferries.

Shearwater entered service on May 5, 1969, and could carry 54 passengers.

She was closely followed by Shearwater 2 in 1970, Shearwater 3 in 1972 and Shearwater 4 in 1973.

Shearwater 5 and 6 joined the Red Funnel fleet in 1980 and 1981 respectively, and served the Southampton to West Cowes route for almost 20 years.

After Shearwater 6 was withdrawn from service in 1998, Shearwater 5 became the last of Red Funnel’s hydrofoil ferries in service, until she was retired in 2000.

Red Funnel entered the next phase of high-speed travel in April, 1991, with the introduction of its first Red Jet catamaran ferry, Red Jet 1.

She was the first waterjet propelled high speed vessel on the Solent and could carry 120 passengers, which was later increased to 138 passengers.

She was also the first of Red Funnel’s fleet to receive an official naming ceremony, being named by Lady Stuart at FBM’s yard in Cowes.

Red Jet 2 followed just two months later in June, 1991, while Red Jet 3 joined the fleet in 1997.

With an extra 52 seats, she helped to cope with the increasing commuter and tourist traffic.

It was some six years later that Red Jet 4 entered service in early 2003, which saw twice the capacity of Red Jets 1 and 2, with 271 seats and space for two wheelchairs.

Red Jet 4 also offered a transformation in terms of ride comfort, speed and low wash, and became the fastest commercial passenger catamaran operating in the Solent.

In 2009, Red Funnel snapped up the opportunity to add a further Red Jet to its fleet, welcoming Red Jet 5 into service in August, 2009, during Cowes Week.

Seven years later, Red Jet 6 entered service.

Built by Shemara Refit LLP in East Cowes on the IW, she marked the return of fast ferry building in the UK.

In 2017, Red Funnel ordered its latest addition to its high-speed fleet, Red Jet 7.

At 41.12 metres, Red Jet 7 is a sister vessel to Red Jet 6 with capacity for 275 passengers and two wheelchairs.

Marking the company’s second consecutive Island-based ship order, Red Jet 7 was built at Wight Shipyard in East Cowes and entered service in July, 2018, after being named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

The event was held just over two years after a similar royal naming ceremony was held for Red Jet 6, which was named by HRH The Princess Royal.

Today, Red Funnel has three high-speed ferries in its fleet ­— Red Jets 4, 6 and 7 ­— each with a top speed of 38 knots and transporting thousands of passengers between Southampton and West Cowes in just 25 minutes.

Fran Collins, chief executive of Red Funnel, said: “2019 marks our 50th anniversary of high-speed service between Southampton and West Cowes.

“It’s fantastic to look back and see the progression both the company and ferry industry as a whole has made during this time, with all efforts focused on giving our customers the best travel experience possible.”

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