Monday 29 June 2009

Birthday Boat Balmoral!!!

Waverley's fleetmate Balmoral continued to celebrate her 60th anniversary in style with a visit to Cowes, Isle of Wight on Saturday. This port of call was familiar territory to the former Red Funnel vessel as the Southampton - Isle of Wight service was the one she was originally built to serve.

The photo above (kindly supplied by Chris Jones) shows her arriving at Cowes looking very smart and flying the Red Funnel houseflag from her foremast.

Red Funnel still run this service to this day using a mixture of roll on roll off car ferries (built between 1994 and 1996 by Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd, Port Glasgow) and fast catamaran passenger vessels.

Whenever you see Balmoral visiting the many ports she sails to and from around the UK be sure to give the Birthday Boat a wave - or even better take a sail on her!!

Gavin Stewart