Information

Following the demise of the Black Buccaneer and with a dock left empty at Chessington, a new ship has made port. The Blue Barnacle has made its long voyage to the park and has set up camp with its crew of guests ready to set sail. Stormy seas may have delayed this ship, but it has now arrived and is ready to welcome passengers.

You’re invited to join the crew of the Blue Barnacle at Chessington. Shipmates board the Blue Barnacle, strap in and should brace themselves for a wild ride. This ship is a worthy successor to the Black Buccaneer. Crewmates should hold on to the bars tight, especially those sitting on those back rows!

The lighter band of Pirate’s aboard the Blue Barnacle have opted for a brighter ship. Bold blues and reds adorn the walls. The fearsome sails fly high and the ship soars into the sky. Brave adventurers should set sail with Captain Bailey and co-captain Jones as they take a voyage across Pirates Cove!

Suitable for families and thrill-seekers alike, the ride is one of the more thrilling at the park, but it still offers a low enough height restriction that younger guests can embark on the adventure. Parents and guardians should be cautious however as sitting in the rear rows of the boat can be very intense for younger guests as the ride forces give guests more than just butterflies in their tummy’s.

Although it may look like a classic childhood ride on the swing set at a local park, a ride on Blue Barnacle is far from that, with its high-flying ride mode and plenty of weightless moments. Gravity soon pulls the boat back down to earth,

Manufacturer:
Metallbau Emmeln

Ride Model:
Santa Maria

Height:
36ft / 11m

Passengers:
42

Theoretical Capacity:
650 Guests Per Hour

Cost:
£800,000

Minimum Height:
1.10m. Guests Under 1.30m must be accompanied by an adult aged 16+

Chest Restriction:
51 Inches Max.

Attraction Type:
Wild Rides

Disabled Access:
Available

Reserve & Ride:
Available

Ride Photos:
Not Available

  News

Shipwreck Coast Coming July 15th

Shipwreck Coast Coming July 15th

  June 29th 2022

Chessington World of Adventures has announced Shipwreck Coast, coming July 15th. The new land, designed and developed in-house is…

Read More…

Bobbing Barrels Arrives

Bobbing Barrels Arrives

  June 10th 2022

Thanks to our roving reporter, we can now exclusively reveal that Bobbing Barrels arrives at Chessington. Following on from…

Read More…

Project Anchor speeds ahead

Project Anchor speeds ahead

  April 10th 2022

Project Anchor speeds ahead following planning approval earlier this week. Chessington has wasted no time getting to work on…

Read More…

Shipwreck Coast Is Full Steam Ahead

Shipwreck Coast Is Full Steam Ahead

  April 4th 2022

That’s right, Shipwreck Coast is full steam ahead after confirmation of planning permission today. With final permission now granted…

Read More…

New For 2022: Shipwreck Coast

New For 2022: Shipwreck Coast

  March 7th 2022

New For 2022: Shipwreck Coast! Chessington is planning a new land for 2022! The pirates have abandoned this old…

Read More…

Two New Rides For 2022

Two New Rides For 2022

  February 16th 2022

That’s right. Chessington is planning to add two new rides for the 2022 season. Today, a planning application has…

Read More…

  Photos

  Video

  Planning

  Construction

December 5th 2020

We finally get to see what the Blue Barnacle will look like now that the ship has arrived at the park, and Chessington has reopened for its annual Winters Tail event. The ship, which we can now confirm as being manufactured by German company Metallbau Emmeln, is fully on site, with the rides structure tucked away by Griffin’s Galleon.

The drive motor for the ride is in place, and work has started on replacing the ride control system in the operator cabin. The ship itself is in place and the park are starting to pump out water from within the rides pit following the recent heavy rain.

The ship is bright and colourful and has 10 rows, seating a total of 42 passengers per ride. Barriers on one side of the boat make it clear that guests will exit the ride on the same side they embark.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 5th December 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

November 14th 2020

It’s official, Blue Barnacle has arrived. In this photo posted by Chessington on their social media Channels, it’s been confirmed that the ride has arrived. With a single image showing the ride being craned into its final location.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 14th November 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

October 17th 2020

Although there are once again no major updates to the site, park management were spotted on the Blue Barnacle site. We believe they were discussing the arrival of the ship and we’re therefore hopeful it will be arriving soon.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 17th October 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 17th October 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

October 1st 2020

As per our previous few updates, no visible work has taken place on site.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st October 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st October 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st October 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st October 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

July 27th 2020

No work appears to have taken place over the last month, with it likely that Chessington have postponed the ride until next season due to the ongoing global pandemic. Ground works appear mostly completed however, so it could be an easy thing to pick back up again once things have gone quiet once more? Time will tell!

Blue Barnacle Construction, 4th July 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 4th July 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 4th July 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 4th July 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

June 20th 2020

In our first update post lockdown, we can see how much work has been done on site once more. Large amounts have been completed, with water proofing in place around the lagoon area. All the foundations are in, the queue-line fences are in and the tarmac has been laid.

Planting has been done on the mound of fresh earth which was set up behind the rocks. It looks very nearly ready for the new ride to be installed. Only changes to be completed are the installation of the exit path behind the ride. We cannot be sure if the ride will feature an unload on the opposite side as before, but it looks likely.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th June 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th June 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th June 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th June 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

March 19th 2020

Just 4 days after our last update, work is still moving ahead, with the queue-line fence being replace. Sections that were removed are being put back in, with gravel in place ahead of sections being tarmacked.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 19th March 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 19th March 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 19th March 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

March 15th 2020

Huge changes have happened in the past month! It appears that all of the new rides foundations are in place, including those for the rides drive system. Large amount of soil has been moved alongside the site, with new rocks in place also. It certainly looks as though the rides pond will be returning!

Blue Barnacle Construction, 15th March 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 15th March 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 15th March 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

February 20th 2020

Large progress has been made over the last few days. Two of the concrete foundation tubes are now in place. The rebar cages which will form the rides footers have been made and will be concreted inside the tubes to support the ride.

Large volumes of ground have been moved around on site. Could this hopefully mean that the Black Buccaneer’s lagoon setting will be returning?

Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 20th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

February 15th 2020

Now we’re talking! A lot has changed on site, with new foundations being poured through concrete tubing. A lot of ground has been moved to make way for the new footers and a trench has been dug out beneath the ride. We believe this is for the rides new drive motors. Progress is being made rapidly!

Blue Barnacle Construction, 15th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 15th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 15th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 15th February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

February 1st 2020

With it now officially confirmed that Chessington is set to replace the Black Buccaneer for the 2020 season, we will be keeping an eye on site. Work has not yet moved on since December, with work on clearing out the operator cabin suspended.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 1st February 2020, Chessington World of Adventures Resort

December 7th 2019

According to our sources, Chessington will be replacing the tired Black Buccaneer ride with a new ship for the 2020 season. It appears that some work has taken place here, with a clear out of the rides operating cabin. This is of course unconfirmed and subject to change.

Blue Barnacle Construction, 7th December 2019, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 7th December 2019, Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Blue Barnacle Construction, 7th December 2019, Chessington World of Adventures Resort