With a blue sky and a fresh breeze, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company had picked a good day for its first visit to the town in three years. And there will be another sailing on July 30.
But the excited crowd of 480 which queued to get aboard the fast catamaran Snaefell was unanimous that two sailings were just not enough.
At the head of the queue was Mayor of Wyre, Coun Gordon McCann.
He said: "I believe the tickets for the two sailings went in 36 hours.
Cyclists
"I hope they do more."
Ian Ellis, 42, a civil servant from Warley Road, Blackpool, had been drawn to the trip by the chance to go to the island for the first time in 20 years.
He said: "I think it's something they could do once a month instead of going from Heysham."
Continuing a lifetime affection for the Isle of Man was Peter Thornton of Evesham Close, Cleveleys, who was with his wife Valerie.
Mr Thornton said: "When I heard about this sailing I came down and there was a queue for tickets and they sold out that day."
Fourteen members of Cleveleys Road Club were setting out for some of the best cycling in Britain.
Among them was Don Turner of Manor Mews, Poulton, who said: "If there were more sailings I am sure we would get more local cyclists going over."
Dave Worth of Horncliffe Road, Blackpool, said: "This trip is fantastic value and if they could do three or four sailings a year, people would use it."
For Snaefell, which can reach 32 knots, the sailing was part of a big comeback.
In February last year she was badly damaged in a collision in the River Mersey and only got back into service again in May.
Bosses at the Steam Packet Company said they are keeping their options open.
Chief executive Mark Woodward, said: "Our summer day-trip schedule is drawn up on a year-on-year basis and so we will not be making any decisions about next summer until early in
2009.
"We are keeping all options open, and are delighted that both Fleetwood-Isle of Man day trips this month are sold out.
"However, the bottom line is that these sailings are not economically viable on a regular scheduled basis, particularly when you consider marine fuel costs have risen 10-fold over the past decade and have doubled in the last six months alone.
"In addition, the lack of facilities at Fleetwood continues to be a problem and the lack of deep water in the port also poses a risk of damage to the vessel's waterjets."