 We are pleased to announce that we have now acquired a second mini-coach. It's a 22 seater 'Optimo' with air-con and although it's livery is pretty much of a blank canvas at the moment, it's already proving successful with the passengers that have travelled in her so far. We havn't actually decided on whether to have her painted in the same livery as the 16 seater yet but will be making plans to get her 'vinyled' very soon. So keep a look out for her knocking around the Island!
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 Island Explorer would like to wish everyone who reads this a very happy and prosperous new year!
We have a few plans up our sleeves for 2017 which we hope to share with you over the first few weeks of the new year. Again, we would welcome enquires from tourism businesses who would like to join our list of collegues who are involved in providing the ulitimate service to our guests on our tours. So if you own or manage an attraction, cafe or pub which you think would enhance any of our tours which we offer to individulal and group visitors to the Island, then please contact us via our contact page. We will then be happy to discuss our ideas with you when we re-open next week.  Well it's almost that time of the year again and what a year we've had at Island Explorer! We would like to thank all our old (and new) customers and colleagues for your business throughout 2016. Plans are already underway for 2017 and we anticipate making some big announcements for the new year so watch this space! Should any Island based attraction wish to contact us about working with us to provide good quality tours then please use the contact page.
In the meantime we would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperpous new year!  Almost exactly a year ago, we carried out one of our most interesting jobs so far in which we were hired to convey a film crew to, from and around the Isle of Wight Bestival Site. At the time we were sworn to secrecy but on September 16th, the film 'Bridget Jones's Baby' is being released. Among the passengers was director, Sharon Maguire and production manager, Richard May (credits include Casino Royale).
We spent 2 and half days with the crew who were filming at the Bestival 'background'and 'cutaway' scenes for the festival sequence in the film. A helicopter was also used by the crew for some aerial shots. Sharon Maguire told us that the sequence will last about 15 minutes on screen and the shots filmed at the Bestival will feature quite a lot. So if your'e planning on seeing 'Bridget Jones's Baby, see if you can pick out the scenes filmed at the Isle of Wight Bestival!
 Chale Recreation Ground We are pleased to of been chosen again to provide the transport for the participants of this year's Challenge The Wight.
The event which is organised by Action Challenge, kicks off the 2016 Walking Festival and involves around 600 people of all ages walking, running or jogging around a set route around the Island while raising money for many different charities. There is an option of distances available with the most energetic participants aiming to do the whole distance (around 100kms/62 miles) over 2 days starting at 6am tomorrow (Saturday) at Chale. There are check points set up along the route at Nodewell Farm (just outside Alum Bay), Nothwood House, Culver Down and Ventnor. So if you see hundreds of people with glow sticks/torches walking around the Island late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, you'll know what they are up to!  Coming soon to an Island tourism publication carousel is our 2016 tours brochure. This season (which begins this week), sees a slightly
re-vamped programme with a new tour featuring Osborne House and Whippingham Church. We have also added Ryde as a departure point for our Thursday afternoon 'East Wight Downs Tour' which previously started in Sandown. So pick up a copy from any Island Tourist Information Point or send a DL size stamped addressed envelope to us at Island Explorer, 2 Kensington Court, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 2EE and we will gladly pop one back to you in the post.  Image Courtesy of Hovertavel Hovertravel has revealed the new look and announced the names for its two new craft. The striking design is a dynamic representation of the union flag which uses the red, blue and white background of the craft to create a traditional look with a contemporary feel.
“We wanted to celebrate the Britishness of our operation” explained Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, “The hovercraft is a British invention and, here in the Solent, over fifty years later, Hovertravel is the only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in the world. As both a local community service and an international tourist attraction we are proud to fly the flag for Britain. With images of our unique craft shared daily we are excited about the colourful impact our new fleet will make to the Solent.” Hovertravel has also announced the names for the new fleet: Solent Flyer and Island Flyer. “The names of our craft are straightforward and simple; describing what our hovercraft do and where they do it” continued Neil, “There is a strong history of using the word ‘flyer’ in transport to describe fast vehicles and we chose this description to combine our quickest way across the Solent with the fact that our craft fly at 1.5 metres above the water. The addition of ‘Solent’ is to identify the specific stretch of water where we operate and we added ‘Island’ to demonstrate that we connect two islands.” Hovertravel’s first craft, Solent Flyer, will continue its sea trials in the Solent next week and, with its sister craft Island Flyer, is due to be in service this summer.  Old and New on Ryde Sands Today saw the first appearance of one of the new hovercrafts which are due to enter service this coming summer. Built by Griffon Hoverworks in Southampton, the new craft will replace the AP 1-88 craft which have now been in service for over 30 years. One of the benefits of the new craft is that they will have extra luggage capacity inside so there will no longer be side lockers on the outside which improves aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
Island Explorer customers will be able to enjoy the experience of riding the new craft as part of the combined Hover/Tour Ticket from Southsea which will be available on almost all of our Isle of Wight Tours this coming season.
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