Waverley on the South Coast: 16 September 2005

Sunday 11 September 2005 saw Waverley back at Berth 104 instead of Berth 101, where she had been based the previous week. [She is due to be back at Berth 101 next weekend.] About 250 joined the paddler for her 09.00 departure for Yarmouth, Bournemouth, Swanage and Weymouth.

A Red Jet rushes off to Cowes as SS Shieldhall is dwarfed by the car carrier Leo Leader

Good time was made on the outward voyage and plenty of people embarked for Swanage as it was the steam railway's Gala Weekend.
In fact, there was a very large exchange of passengers at Swanage, over 500 being dealt with in 16.5 minutes by Purser Jim McFadzean and the crew.

The passage on to Weymouth was taken out to sea to keep time with a further inshore course taken on the return so that passengers could benefit from the detailed and knowledgeable commentary by Chris Warren.

Passengers rejoining the ship at Swanage, including Anne from Fishbourne (who was enjoying her first time on the steamer), reported that today the BR Standard tank, the West Country "Eddystone," Pannier 6412 and Port Talbot 813 were in service, the latter on shuttles between Corfe Castle and Norden. The newly restored GWR 0-6-2T was in steam but not yet in service.

The return passage was completed a little late due to the need to go past Berth 104 to turn near the King George V Dry Dock, the Upper Swinging Grounds, and steam slowly, to stay within the 6 knot speed limit, back to her berth, ahead of the Tall Ship Prince William.

The paddler spent Monday at Southampton off-service, when much maintenance was carried out.
She was off bright and early on Tuesday 06.15 light to Swanage, arriving at 08.50, having encountered thick fog through the Solent. She also passed the Trinity House vessel Patricia carrying out maintenance at The Needles lighthouse. She took up service at 09.00 to sail for Bournemouth, Ryde and a Portsmouth Harbour cruise.

	Shortly after departure donkeyman Ian McCorkindale checked the fuel levels
Chief Engineer Gordon Reid didn't like the answer so came to check himself - in fact, his arithmetic was faulty!

It was a very pleasant day with an oily sea as we steamed off for The Needles. The early mist cleared gradually and we had good views of the southern coast of the Isle of Wight.

At Ryde we were joined by the Vectis Belles and Wight Wenches, two chapters of the Red Hat Society, out for an afternoon's entertainment. Here, Jim McFadzean ties on the Official Queen's hat. Iain Quinn also had his photo taken with the ladies and the highest offer will secure the negative.

In view of the forecast weather, after giving her scheduled sailing on Wednesday, Waverley proceeded to Portsmouth to tie up for the night, rather than risk becoming stormbound at Swanage Pier. Over 200 passengers joined at the Harbour Station Pier but they were warned the steamer might not be able to reach Lulworth and that Poole Harbour was the alternative destination. Some more people joined at Yarmouth but reported conditions meant it was impossible for the paddler to berth at Bournemouth Pier, so she steamed straight for Swanage. The usual tour of Poole Harbour followed, including a view of the Harbour Master's launch chasing a speeding cruiser.