Waverley on the South Coast Part 1
Report by Martin Longhurst
Waverley's last day on the Clyde was curtailed by bad weather and she finished at Greenock instead of Ayr. After raking fuel she spent the night alongside before steaming off at 05.00 hrs for Weymouth direct, arriving 37 hours later on Wednesday evening.
Her timetabled sailings started on Friday 1 September 2006 with an afternoon cruise out of Weymouth to the tip of Portland Bill followed by a one-way showboat cruise to Bournemouth before she proceeded to Southampton for the night.
The regular timetable cycle started on the Saturday. Starting at Southampton, the steamer called at Portsmouth and Yarmouth as scheduled. The weather forecast was bad and unfortunately it was right. So we were unable to complete the circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight. Any disappointment that was caused was replaced by relief by a quick trip to The Needles to sample conditions out of the sheltered Solent.
Fort Albert on the island opposite ...
... Hurst Castle on the mainland.
 |
This well known London musician made the mistake of complaining the web site had not been updated |
Turning by The Needles
Then it was back east to turn again off Bembridge before returning to Yarmouth. The timetable was then followed back to Southampton.
Waverley turning in Portsmouth Harbour at the start of her final leg to Southampton