To commemorate the history of Hong Kong – Macau sailings, Aero Editor launched a book “Hong Kong – Macau High-Speed Ferries” (Traditional Chinese) last year. This book introduces the history, development and current status of sea travel between Hong Kong and Macau, especially the stories of the legendary Jetfoil fleet
On April 25, 1975, Jetfoil MADEIRA of Far East Hydrofoil Co. Ltd. (now TurboJET) set sail from Hong Kong to Macau, setting a new benchmark for the upcoming 50 years of sea travel between the cities with stability borrowed from airplane technology, record-breaking speed powered by dual jet engines, and doubled passenger capacity. As of today, Jetfoil is the oldest high-speed mass-transportation in Hong Kong and the oldest mass-transportation in Macau still under normal operations, carrying countless commuters and travel. ers to and from the cities as if flying above the sea.
Jetfoil MADEIRA arrived at Hong Kong in early 1975 and performed sea trial on April 10. On April 25, she sailed to Macau for the first time with passengers on board at 9am and completed 3 round trips under the same day. The cost of MADEIRA was USD$2.3 million (HKD 18 million). Traveling time squeezed from one hour and 15 minutes to just 50 minutes while the…