Waverley’s
Final Weekend 2011
Report and pictures by Martin
Longhurst
Following an extended stop at Weymouth, Waverley was able to make excellent
progress the rest of the way to Glasgow, arriving at her Science Centre berth
at about two o’clock on Thursday afternoon.
Her first employment was an evening music charter on 14 October 2011 for
the same operator who had taken her the previous Friday in London. The sail was well supported with excellent
bar takings before the participants were transferred to a night club.
The small tug Beaver Bay pushes the paddler
round before she steams off downstream
Saturday’s forecast was for rain for most of the day and this turned
out to be true, although the rain was very light for the majority of the sailing. This took the paddler from Glasgow to
Greenock, Helensburgh, Kilcreggan and Blairmore for a non-landing cruise to
Arrochar on Loch Long and Carrick Castle on Loch Goil. Despite the depressing weather, good numbers
were carried all day, including Jim McFadzean who
retired after 23 years as the steamer’s purser this time last year.
Sunday’s weather was in contrast excellent, with much sunshine and
light winds. Consequently about 550
joined Waverley at Glasgow, about another 200 at Greenock meaning that ticket
holders were boarded first at Largs.
We encountered three military helicopters in
mid-Firth
A small number of unbooked passengers were able join to bring the
steamer’s complement up to her certificated limit of 860. Numbers fell after Rothesay for the final
leg to Tighnabruaich. Unfortunately the large number of passengers
leaving and joining the steamer had delayed her by half an hour so Captain
Clark put back our departure time by 30 minutes.
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The view
from the restored pier waiting room |
Waverley
waiting at Tighnabruaich |
This newspaper cutting was posted on the
notice board at the Pier – read
the full article. Despite the headline, it is too early to make
predictions but the appeal has been exceptionally successful so far and the
signs are good that both Waverley and Balmoral will be able to sail in 2012. However, more support will be required.
The Tighnabruaich Lifeboat and the Tighnabruaich Pier Association had set up sales stands in
the pier building which did good trade.
A notable feature of the day was the number of announcements made by
past and present Pursers, the most unusual being Ian Young who served in the
early 1980s.
Tony Gamblin’s end
of season jaunt
On the return voyage, the practice of sounding three long blasts on the
ship’s whistle to acknowledge each pier at the end of the season was
revived. Captain also thanked the pier
staff over the public address. You can
hear her departure from Greenock on Dougie Coull’s video.
The arrival back at Pacific Quay was unusual in that the Beaver Bay
turned the steamer to face down river which is more suitable for the winter
maintenance period.
