Waverley on the South Coast 2011 Part 2
Report by Martin Longhurst
Ironically, Monday was the best day of the week but it was Waverley’s
off service day.
Then a large storm blew in and no sailings were possible on Tuesday or
Wednesday. Conditions were little better
on Thursday but the schedule included two Solent ports (Portsmouth and
Yarmouth) so it was decided to offer a sailing within the sheltered
waters. Just under
200 passengers joined the ship at Portsmouth Harbour Station Pier, via a
Gosport ferry as Bestival traffic was monopolising
the interior of the Wightlink Terminal. In the event, the wind was too strong to
come alongside Yarmouth Pier, so the paddler turned east back along the Solent
and round Bembridge Ledge. A cruise was then given round Sandown Bay
before she headed back towards Yarmouth in the hope of giving passengers some
time ashore. However, the wind had not
abated sufficiently and the paddler had to turn back to Portsmouth just west of
Cowes.
By Friday the weather had improved enough for the full Southampton,
Portsmouth, Yarmouth and Needles cruise to be given, Waverley turning off
Freshwater Bay. Saturday saw similar
conditions and the steamer gave a Round the Island cruise
starting from the same three ports.
Today, tidal conditions were suitable for a northabout
circumnavigation via Cowes, Bembridge, St Catherine’s and, finally, The Needles. Another big storm was on the way, arriving
just in time to cause a complete cancellation of Sunday’s cruise.
Meanwhile, further west, Balmoral was experiencing similar difficulties. Originally she had been timetabled to end her
season on Wednesday 7 September but an extension to the 19th had
been planned to compensate for the late start to the season. However, the first storm arrived on the 2nd,
curtailing that day’s cruise and then forcing a retreat to Avonmouth. The following weekend’s sailings were
scheduled to be to the Isle of Man. The
forecast was such that, even if Balmoral could have reached the North-West, she
could not have given any public sailings there. Rapid calculations were made and it was
concluded that there was little prospect of making a financial success of the
remainder of the season. Therefore the
decision had to be taken to cancel all remaining sailings and return the ship
to Bristol for her winter lay-up. She
was, however, kept in readiness should the call come to stand in for the
paddler.
There was further bad news from the Thames, where a barge had broken
loose in bad weather and had damaged Southend Pier sufficiently the cause its temporary
closure. I am pleased to say that WEL
have been informed that repairs should be completed in time to allow Waverley’s
calls to go ahead.
Return to South Coast and Thames Index