South Coast Report 3
29 September 2008
by Martin Longhurst
On Tuesday 16 September 2008 Waverley started her sailing as scheduled at Bournemouth and headed for Ryde via St Catherine's Point. Thence for the non-landing cruise of Portsmouth Harbour starting from Ryde. After dropping off her short cruise passengers there, the steamer took the direct route back to Bournemouth via The Solent as planned. There was some doubt about the sufficiency of water at the pier, and after waiting some time Captain O'Brian decided it was not possible to call there and that the passengers would need to be carried on to Weymouth for coach return, some hours late.
The problems getting alongside at Bournemouth Pier seem to be caused by sand deposited deliberately as part of "beach replenishment" by Bournemouth Council being washed around the piles by the action of the sea.
Wednesday's sail was due to start from Weymouth. Unfortunately, a fault was discovered with the main control valve at sailing time and this led to the cancellation of a further day's sailing.
The paddler proceeded light ship to Portsmouth early on Thursday to resume her timetable with the regular sail to Lulworth calling only at Bournemouth. The cruise proceeded as far west as Ringstead. Again the tide won at Bournemouth with the paddler unable to return. Purser Jim McFadzean then had the unenviable task of arranging coaches home not only for the passengers stranded at Bournemouth but also for those on board who could not disembark before Portsmouth.
Friday's sail from Southampton and Portsmouth to The Needles went ahead as planned, save for the omission o the Yarmouth calls. Fortunately he necessary work on Yarmouth Pier was completed in time for calls to be resumed the following day, which was a Round the Island cruise - the first day without incident for a whole week.
This did not mean Waverley's troubles were over, however. Soon after her departure from Southampton, word was received that a one metre swell was running at Bournemouth, effectively precluding the calls there. So after leaving Yarmouth, the steamer headed direct for Old Harry Rocks after clearing the North Channel past Hurst Castle. Proceedings were enlivened by two passes by the RAF Red Arrows, the first near Yarmouth and the second in the distance as they performed a short display over Christchurch.
Landfall was made at Weymouth a little early, after a passage affording excellent views of the Jurassic coast. Passengers from Weymouth were offered a round trip via Wightlink from Yarmouth and coach from Lymington instead of from Bournemouth.
Monday was an off-service day with various maintenance jobs to be attended to. The following week's sailings were able to take place as planned, culminating with the final (for 2008) Portsmouth to Lulworth cruise on Thursday 25 September, bringing an end to the South Coast season.
Captain Andy O'Brian, who had commanded the Waverley since she left the Clyde, returned north to take the Balmoral for her Glasgow Holiday weekend sailings. He was relieved on the Waverley by Captain Ian Clark.
Alongside Bournemouth Pier a presentation was made to mark the retirement of Peter Lamb who, as owner, and later manager, of Dorset Belle Cruises, had been Waverley's agent for many years.