Fastnet chief racing to ferry British tourists

FROM fast cars to ferry boats... that’s the career path of the new chief executive of Ireland’s fledgling ferry company who’s determined to bring thousands more British tourists to West Cork.

Phil Jones, who used to manage the famous Silverstone racetrack, has just taken over as chief of the Fastnet Line, which runs the MV Julia between Cork and Swansea.

His first act was to appoint a dedicated PR agency in Britain to pick up extra business.

“I appointed them last Thursday and the following day the volcano blew,” he said with a smile.

As planes were grounded, he decided to put on two extra sailings, which carried more than 800 passengers.

“We managed to bring back five of the Cork Symphony Orchestra,” Phil said.

Last night he staged the first of a number of west Cork roadshows for co-op members.

Meanwhile chairman of the West Cork Tourism co-operative which owns Fastnet Line, Conor Buckley, said the co-op is putting plans in place for the purchase of a ship to replace the MV Julia.