South Coast 2007
First Report 8 September
Words and pictures by Martin Longhurst
Waverley set sail from Ayr at the conclusion of her main Clyde season in the evening of Monday 27 August 2007. After a 40 hour steam, she tied up at Weymouth about eight o'clock in the morning on the Wednesday.
Her South Coast season commenced on the Friday with an afternoon cruise along the Jurassic Coast and then a cruise to Bournemouth for the Fireworks. She anchored off Thorness (Isle of Wight) before steaming into Southampton ready for her first Round the Island foray, calling at Portsmouth Harbour and Yarmouth. Over 400 were on board for the circumnavigation and good views were had of this year's major rock fall on the southern Wight coast at Culver Cliff, in Sandown Bay.
During the day she was flying her special South Coast commemorative flag, which will be auctioned before she moves on to the Thames. Incidentally, the first Clyde flag was sold for a substantial sum during the final August weekend.
Sunday's marathon 11 hour cruise took the steamer from Southampton (Berth 104) to Yarmouth, Bournemouth and Weymouth.
Tankers moored at Fawley Oil Refinery
A connection to Swanage was offered aboard the Belle cruisers. As we were passing Swanage we saw the Western Lady III in service with her new operator. She is the only and last working Fairmile launch still in service today.
An unusual occurrence, for the South Coast, was two former CalMac vessels passing off Lulworth. The other was Laig Bay, formerly the flit boat stationed at Eigg, used to land passengers off Loch Nevis, the Small Isles vessel.
After time ashore at Weymouth, the steamer headed back east but this time following an in shore course complemented by Chris Warren's knowledgeable commentary. Our Swanage passengers rejoined having crossed the Bay on Croson's Bournemouth Belle. Two evening round trips with coach return were offered, one between Weymouth and Bournemouth and the second between Bournemouth and Southampton. Arrival at Southampton was preceded as usual by turning in the turning ground off the George V Dry Dock. The weather for the whole weekend had been favourable.
Monday saw the paddler off service at Southampton, allowing the Engineers an opportunity to do some maintenance jobs. Sailings were given as scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday, with overnight stays at Weymouth and Ryde, no berth being available at Portsmouth.
Thursday took the Waverley from Portsmouth to Yarmouth, Bournemouth (with connection to Swanage) and a non-landing cruise to Lulworth Cove. Departure was delayed slightly as some passengers were arriving on the fast cat from Ryde due at 10.00 and also by two grey funnel fleet vessels leaving the harbour.
Nearly 300 were on board leaving Portsmouth and a further 100 or so joined the ship at Yarmouth. At Bournemouth both Bournemouth Belle and Dorset Belle were also alongside the pier. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of firing going on at the time - indeed we could hear frequent rumblings booming out to sea - so the paddler had to keep well out to sea, clear of any stray shells! However, we did get a very good look at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door before turning out to sea and cutting across to St Alban's Head.
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The mouth of Lulworth Cove |
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Durdle Door - a "dinosaur with its head in the water" according to Jim McFadzean |
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Arina - anchored off Lulworth - a floating builder's yard?
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One for Jean - a well known paddle steamer celebrity |
Unfortunately there had been an 'incident' on the Swanage Railway which had delayed some of our passengers, leading to the Bournemouth Belle returning late. However, favourable tides converted a 30 minute late departure
from Bournemouth to a 15 minute late arrival at Yarmouth and an on time arrival at Portsmouth. The paddler then steamed light for Southampton ready for Friday's sail. This went ahead on schedule with good numbers despite poor visibility.
Saturday started with grey skies and a slight mist but this improved through the day as the steamer proceeded from Southampton to Portsmouth and Yarmouth to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight. Over 600 were on board for the clockwise sail with excellent views of The Needles.
The Gosport ferry Spirit of Portsmouth crosses in front of a visiting Chinese warship with the masts of HMS Victory in the background
Now we know what the handles are for!
Alum Bay in the background - The Needles to the right
Scratchells Bay and The Needles
After rounding Bembridge Ledge, Coastguard helicopter Whisky Bravo came up on the paddler and the winchman held up a large sign "67." Then the crew carried out an exercise, landing a crew member on the poop deck, passing small orange bags back and forth, running out a messenger line, lowering a stretcher using said line and finally recovering the stretcher and crew member.
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