TOURISTS and commuters could be taking hovercraft rides from Rhyl beach within a fortnight.
After a year waiting for the necessary permit to be granted by Denbighshire County Council, Nantwich-based Hovercraftrental has acquired a licence to operate a service from Rhyl seafront.
Tests were conducted in February 2007 and the location was found to be an ideal launch site.
And owner Geraint Roberts intends to start offering rides over the beach and out to sea as soon as possible.
“We’re just waiting for the Crown Estates to say yes and then we can start doing trips. And there’s no reason, if the need is there, that we can’t fly the service like a ferry or a water taxi. We’ve got permits for Holyhead, Colwyn Bay, Penmaenmawr, Llandudno and Southport.
“If people want it, we can even talk to Wallasey and run a service there. And if everybody wants it, we could be operating within two weeks.”
Unlike the previous hovercraft service which ran between Rhyl and Wallasey in 1962, the technology used by Geraint has less environmental impact.
“Our hovercraft is quieter than a speedboat but we can carry up to 12 people and fly at 50mph,” he said.
“It’s economic to run, it handles the sea well and more importantly it doesn’t need massive amounts of infrastructure.”
The company is already well-established and travels around the country giving rides to tourists and locals wanting a new experience.
A point from which the hovercraft will be launched has yet to be finalised, but is likely to be close to the RNLI station.
Poor weather could restrict the service although unlike its predecessor, it is unlikely to cancel it.
“We won’t fly above 20mph if the sea’s above one metre, although we have flown at 50mph in much bigger seas. The hovercraft can handle anything, but you have to remember that there are people on board.”
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