Waverley on the South Coast Part 3

Report by Alan James

The timetabled call at Worthing on Monday 4 September 2006 was cancelled due to the weather conditions on Sunday afternoon.   Some 340 passengers were bussed, from Worthing to Southampton.   As often happens when decisions have to be taken ahead of time, conditions at Worthing would probably have been acceptable.   However, the decision had to be taken the previous afternoon, when conditions were still poor, in order to book the necessary coaches.

The cruise started at 11.50 due to one coach being delayed arriving at Worthing.  It finally left Worthing at 10.10, 30 minutes after the previous one had left.   I travelled on this and was in contact with Purser Jim McFadzean to inform him of our progress and to ensure that the ship did not sail without us!   We finally arrived at Southampton at 11.45, allowing Waverley to sail at 11.50.   Rapid progress was made down Southampton Water to try and catch up with time, following a Red Funnel Car Ferry.   The Yarmouth and Bournemouth calls were made as planned, but did not attract the normal number of passengers due to the weather etc over the weekend.   We passed Lulworth Cove at 1640 to view as normal.

Arrived back at Portsmouth Harbour at 20.45, following a misty and damp return via Bournemouth and Yarmouth, with five more coaches to return passengers to Worthing.

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