South Coast
& Thames Part 3
Report and pictures by Martin Longhurst
On 10 September 2010 Waverley
left Southampton for her usual Friday cruise to The Needles. The call at Portsmouth was again made with the
aid of the Gosport Ferry Spirit of Portsmouth, the Wightlink terminal being
full of festival goers being attended to by British Transport Police sniffer
dogs and the like. The paddler steamed
on for Yarmouth, her last call before The Needles. Approaching the Island pier, an announcement
was made that the Captain and Harbour Master had agreed that in the prevailing
wind and tidal conditions, it would not be a good idea to attempt to
berth. So the steamer headed straight past
and on to view the chalk pinnacles. With the extra time gained by not calling at
Yarmouth, the steamer was able to give a slightly longer cruise, turning in
boisterous conditions off Freshwater Bay.
The following day Waverley
followed the same pattern of calls but with the objective of a Round the Island
sailing from Yarmouth. Today the
Wightlink terminal was described as “deserted” but nevertheless boarding was still
via the Spirit of Portsmouth, at Wightlink’s request. From Yarmouth we headed west into a stiff
wind and turned to run down the West Wight coast to St Catherine’s Point. Conditions were again boisterous but the
rain held off until we approached the Island’s southernmost point. Having rounded the Point, Captain O’Brian
announced that the adverse tide would mean that arrival back at Yarmouth would
be delayed until eight o’clock and consequently he had decided to turn back to
Yarmouth to regain the timetable. This
decision paid off as we were able to leave Yarmouth at the scheduled time of
17.40.
Rounding The Needles on the way back to Yarmouth
Heading into the sunset as Waverley turns in Portsmouth Harbour
Sunday’s cruise departed
Southampton and the ship headed direct to Yarmouth as planned. Conditions were perfect as she headed down
Southampton Water. Good numbers
travelled to Swanage as it was the Swanage Railway’s Steam Gala this
weekend. Adverse tides held the steamer
back as she headed west so we only had a bare hour ashore in Weymouth
today.
Waverley and Condor 10 seeing eye to eye at Weymouth
As the tide had now turned,
we had to punch the tide eastward. As
usual, a single journey to Swanage was offered with coach return. As is well known, the sand at Bournemouth
has been building up around the pier for some years, as a result of beach
replenishment. On this occasion Waverley
was unable to berth owing to lack of water.
So as she headed east for Yarmouth, Purser Jim McFadzean was making many
phone calls to arrange alternative transport arrangements. Dolphin Coaches were able to oblige by
taking those ashore in Bournemouth home (via the Lymington ferry in the case of
Yarmouth passengers) and to pick up those returning to Bournemouth from
Lymington. Arrival at Yarmouth was just
before eight o’clock, allowing passengers a good chance of joining the 20.15
ferry to Lymington. The final sector to
Southampton was uneventful, with the steamer about to have an off-service day
on the Monday.