South Coast
& Thames Part 2
Report and pictures by Martin Longhurst
We could tell from the way the weather was going on Sunday that
Waverley’s programme for Monday 6 September 2010 was going to be
problematic. The plan was to sail from
Worthing to Yarmouth, Swanage and Yarmouth.
Alan James takes up the story: “I received a phone call on Sunday
afternoon from Jim saying that due to weather and the state of Worthing
Pier(only the west side of the landing stage would be available for Waverley)
could I assist with a coach transfer for passengers to get to Southampton. Seven coaches were booked for Monday, but
only five were needed as many people could see the rough conditions at Worthing
and decided not to travel. The paddler departed Southampton Eastern Docks (1035)
with just over 200 passengers on board. It was not possible to berth at
Yarmouth (1215) due to the wind and then cruised the Solent for a Portsmouth
Dockyard cruise which then got cancelled at the last minute by QHM at
Portsmouth due to shipping movements.
Then she steamed back to Yarmouth for an extended time ashore
(1600-1800), but it started to rain quite heavily at 1630 for the rest of the
day. Waverley then sailed back to
Southampton (1920) with coach return to Worthing. Not a good day at all.”
Fortunately the weather took a turn for the better and Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday’s cruises were not affected for this reason. Tuesday saw the steamer give a sailing newly
timetabled for this year. Starting from
Swanage and Bournemouth the paddler headed for Yarmouth and then a circumnavigation
of the Isle of Wight. The latter sector
was the new element and introduces a second Round the Island sail into each
week’s timetable. This proved very
popular with 200 joining the ship.
At the conclusion of this sail, the steamer sails light-ship to
Weymouth so as to take her mid-week stores and fuel as well as to position for
the start of Wednesday’s trip. Heading
east along the incomparable Jurassic Coast, the steamer called at Swanage and
Bournemouth before setting course for Yarmouth once more. This was not scheduled but unfortunately
Ryde Pier was unavailable to Waverley owing to structural works and so the call
at Yarmouth was substituted. The cruise
round Portsmouth Harbour went ahead as planned. Owing to light patronage, the Swanage to
Weymouth sector is now timetabled as a coach return so the steamer spent the
night alongside the pier.
The first stage on Thursday was a light sail to Portsmouth to take up
her public schedule for the day. This
weekend saw the ‘Bestival’ music festival take place on the Isle of Wight. Consequently, the Wightlink Terminal was
packed with festival goers all carrying their large back-packs and
bedrolls. To segregate Waverley’s
passengers arrangements had been made for them to join the steamer by means of
a Gosport ferry, the Spirit of Portsmouth.
This meant we were transported the 200 yards from the ferry pontoon to
the normal Station Pier berth (i.e. on the same side of the harbour) by water!
Passengers boarding Waverley from
Spirit of Portsmouth
Of course, there were just too many passengers to be taken in one trip
so it was about 10.35 before we could get under way for Yarmouth, Bournemouth,
Swanage and Lulworth. Good progress was
made westward although the numbers joining the ship caused further delay to accrue. After Swanage, Chris Warren came on board to
give his familiar commentary laced with much local knowledge. We had to stand out to sea to clear the
Range Safety Zone on the way west but were able to come close in to the coast
on the way back from Lulworth.
Passing St Alban’s Head
Approaching Swanage, Purser Jim McFadzean announced that owing to swell
conditions combined with low tide, it would not be possible to make the second
call at Bournemouth. Alternative
arrangements were made to return the Bournemouth passengers by Dorset Belle
Cruises from Swanage and to take passengers ashore in Bournemouth home by coach
(and ferry from Lymington for the 11 Yarmouth passengers). So the paddler made a direct sail from
Swanage to Yarmouth enabling her to make up much of the lost time. At the end of the public sail, she was
alongside at Portsmouth about 20 minutes late.
Finally, she steamed off for Southampton to position herself for the
next three day’s sailings.
Back alongside Portsmouth Harbour
Station Pier