Photo: Sebastian Schuster / UnsplashHovertravel
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Checked against hovertravel.co.uk on 9 November 2026
Planning a trip from Southsea to Ryde? The Southsea to Ryde Hovercraft is run by Hovertravel, and it's a handy way to make the crossing.
Crossings take under 10 minutes, so you won't be on board for long. You can compare this route on Ferryu.
- Operated by Hovertravel
- Crossings take under 10 minutes
- Extra flights are added to the standard timetable during peak times
At a glance
- Arrives
- Ryde
- Isle of Wight
Who sails this route
Photo: Sebastian Schuster / UnsplashSailing with Hovertravel
Hovertravel's crossings take under 10 minutes. During peak times they add extra flights to their standard timetable, which can give you more choice when things get busy.
Timetables can change, so be sure to check the latest times with Hovertravel before you set off, and arrive in good time for your crossing.
When you arrive in Ryde
A Hovertravel hovercraft arriving at RydePhoto: Neil Mewes / Unsplash 
A hovercraft crossing the beach at RydePhoto: Paul Arky / Unsplash
Weather in Ryde
- Warmest month: July, average high 21°C.
- Wettest month: November, about 79 mm of rain.
- Sea at its warmest in September, about 18°C.
Temperature
- Air, average daily low to high (1991–2020)
- Sea surface, monthly average (2023–2024)
Rain
Average total for the month, mm (1991–2020)
Temperature
- Air, average daily low to high (1991–2020)
- Sea surface, monthly average (2023–2024)
Rain
Average total for the month, mm (1991–2020)
Show the numbers
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Sea °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.5 | 4.5 | 67.2 | 9.0 |
| February | 8.4 | 4.2 | 51.0 | 8.6 |
| March | 10.4 | 5.3 | 45.3 | 8.7 |
| April | 13.0 | 6.8 | 49.0 | 10.4 |
| May | 16.1 | 9.6 | 50.0 | 13.2 |
| June | 18.9 | 12.3 | 46.8 | 15.7 |
| July | 21.0 | 14.4 | 47.9 | 16.0 |
| August | 20.9 | 14.6 | 58.1 | 17.4 |
| September | 18.6 | 12.6 | 52.2 | 18.2 |
| October | 15.0 | 10.2 | 76.2 | 16.5 |
| November | 11.5 | 7.2 | 79.1 | 13.6 |
| December | 9.1 | 5.1 | 73.7 | 10.8 |
1991–2020 averages, ERA5 via Open-Meteo, read at the grid point nearest the port (6 km away). Sea surface: 2023–2024 averages from the Open-Meteo Marine Weather API, which has no sea temperatures before late 2022.
Questions answered
How long is the ferry from Southsea to Ryde?
crossings take under 10 minutes. (Hovertravel, hovertravel.co.uk)
How often does it sail?
During peak times extra flights are added to the standard timetable. (Hovertravel, hovertravel.co.uk)
Compare routes to the Isle of Wight
Who sails each route and how long the crossing takes.
| Route | Operator | Crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Southsea to Ryde Hovercraft This route | Hovertravel | – |
| Lymington to Yarmouth | Wightlink | About 40 minutes |
| Portsmouth to Fishbourne | Wightlink | About 45 minutes |
| Portsmouth to Ryde | Wightlink | About 22 minutes |
| Southampton to Cowes | Red Funnel | About 30 minutes |
| Southampton to East Cowes | Red Funnel | About 60 minutes |
More ferries to the Isle of Wight
All ferries to the Isle of Wight · More from Ryde ferry port
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