The Bay of Islands community farewells a local icon
MEDIA RELEASE – 25th March 2011
The Bay of Islands community farewells a local icon, as the historic Bay of Bay Belle Ferry Retires
Hundreds of local well wishers turned out today in Russell to farewell a stalwart of the local Bay of Islands community, as the historic Bay Belle ferry completed her last Paihia to Russell crossing.
For over 50 years the Bay Belle has been an icon of the Bay of Islands, having begun operations in the late 1961 on the famous Cream Trip cruise, taking passengers through the inner islands of the bay and along the Cape Brett Peninsular.
In 1973 the Bay Belle made way for a faster more modern vessel on the increasing popular cruise and began a new life as the main passenger ferry vessel between the two main Bay of Islands townships of Paihia and Russell, operating up to fifteen return trips per day.
Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands first female Skipper Jane Taylor remembers the day well “I was privileged to sail the Bay Belle away from her run on a very similar day back in 1973. Today with my daughter Tammy, also a skipper with Fullers GreatSights, we will sail her away for the very last time.”
Throughout her 50 years of service within the Bay of Islands, the Bay Belle has carried over 5 million passengers and travelled more than 610,00 nautical miles, the equivalent of 28 times around the world.
Replacing the Bay Belle is a modern aluminum vessel, with 100 seats.
The new vessel was built in Invercargill by Gough Bros. and sailed up the coast by a crew from Fullers GreatSights earlier in the month.
The new vessel shares many of the features of the old Bay Belle, with an open upper deck that has been so popular with travelers over the years.
The old Bay Belle may be going but her legend lives on, with the vessel being named the Bay Belle II.
ENDS
About the Bay Belle:
- Built in Deeming Bros. Launched in 1961
- The Bay Belle has carried approximately 5.3 million passengers
- Her diesel engine has completed more than 240,000hrs
- Travelled more than 610,000 nautical miles or 1.13 million kms
- Equivalent to 2.8 times the distance to the moon or 28 times around the circumference of the equator
