Re-entry into service
Balmoral made a speedy passage to Glasgow. Captain Michel remarked that, whereas with the original Sirron engines he could easily judge changes in engine speed from the Bridge, he couldn't hear anything now!
The vessel's first engagement was a charter from Glasgow on 28 May 2003 and Alistair Black was on board:
"I was on Balmoral on Wednesday evening during her charter cruise up & down the river. On the return leg, I suddenly realised I hadn't had a look at the wash created by the new propellers, so took myself down to the stern with my camera. I took the attached photograph and was amazed when I loaded it into the pc. It's a testament to how smooth Balmoral now is, given that the camera was hand-held and the exposure time was 1/2 second!
"I thought you may appreciate the picture for the website, a slightly different view of how Bal has been revitalised. As one of my friends remarked, it looks as though you could use Balmoral to go waterskiing."
The following day she took a public sailing from Glasgow to Ayr via Ailsa Craig before proceeding to Whitehaven for two days of sailings to the Isle of Man. Ged Doran takes up the story:
"I've attached 5 photos
taken of Balmoral in Whitehaven on Friday 30/5/03, and one taken in Ramsey, Isle
Of Man, on Saturday 31/5/03. It was quite hazy on both days, but the sea state
was very good.
Photos taken on Friday 30/05/03.
Balmoral sailing from Whitehaven, Cumbria to the Isle Of Man.
The first three pictures show passengers boarding at the North Pier.
Going astern leaving North Pier
Pilot boat alongside Balmoral taking pilot off at Whitehaven
Photo taken on
Saturday 31/05/03
Passengers disembarking at Ramsey, Isle Of Man