Launch and Career of a Clydebuilt Icon to be celebrated.

The 43rd anniversary of the launch of the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 is to be marked by events at her birthplace of Clydebank.

Waverley and QE2 met many times during the liner's long and illustrious career and I hope that members will take the time to support this event.

Clydebank ♥s the QE2! is an event organised by clyde walking tours™, in association with QE2 website and forum theqe2story.com and will consist of a 90 minute walking tour of Clydebank including the former site of the world famous shipbuilders John Brown and the area formerly occupied by the very slipway on which QE2 and many other famous liners were built and launched.

In the evening a 1 hour presentation on QE2 will be delivered by the qe2story's Rob Lightbody in the Cunard Suite, Clydebank College (College Square, Queens' Quay, G81 1BF).

For more details and to buy tickets please visit http://qe2.eventbrite.com/

Visit the internet's premier QE2 website and forum at http://www.theqe2story.com/index.html where you will find many many interesting facts, discussions and features on the world's most famous ocean liner - including Q&A sessions with two of the QE2's former masters!!

QE2 on the Clyde for the final time Oct 2008 © G Stewart

Yet Another Glasgow River Festival is Upon Us!!

Over Sat 25th & Sun 26th July the banks of the River Clyde will once again come alive as the Glasgow River Festival swings into action.

As ever the Scottish Branch will have a stand at the festival located in front of the Crowne Plazza Hotel just across from Bells Bridge.

On Sunday this year we are pleased to announce that Waverley will also be present and will be giving short sailings between her berth at Glasgow Science Centre and Clydebank. These sailings are non landing return and will be approx 75mins in length and will cost £10 for every adult. Every adult ticket bought permits one child to sail free!

When she is not sailing the ship will be open for the public to come aboard and have a look round.

More information on this and the rest of the festival can be found at the official festival website.

More "firsts" for MV Balmoral

I have already recorded MV Balmoral's unusual calls on Sunday 28th September 2008 and related the sad story of being taken unawares when she berthed at a different point to that expected, resulting in disappointing photographs of the special occasion.

However, one of the River Clyde's prolific shipping photographers, John Newth, was in the right place at the right time on the opposite river bank and has very kindly provided several of his photographs of the event for use on the blog.

Balmoral arriving at Clydebank

Balmoral alongside at Clydebank with the entrance to Rothesay Dock immediately behind her stern and the storage tanks at the dock can be seen in the background

Balmoral prepares to depart Clydebank - this shot gives some impression of just how little berth frontage Captain O'Brian had to work with when coming alongside. The fence section at right angles to the river came right to the edge and proved a particular challenge.

Balmoral heading off down river past the new Clydebank College Building

As has already been reported on here, Balmoral moved from Greenock to berth overnight at Gourock on 1st October. Some nightime sleuths captured her there in the dark (already posted)and another intrepid reporter arrived just as she was moving away in the morning. Luckily another of the Clyde's shipping photographers who lets very little get past him (except three south coast chain ferries - private joke!) was up bright and early and caught Balmoral at Gourock in the daylight.

John Crae has also kindly allowed his photos to be used for the PSPS blog

Balmoral alongside at Gourock with Jupiter at the linkspan on the Dunoon service

Balmoral alongside at Gourock

Sunday 5th October was MV Balmoral's last operating day of the 2008 season - and what a day she had, compared to others throughout the season. 3 full round trips in one day - one from Greenock and two from Glasgow. Over 500 passengers each trip - 1500+ over the day. I am no expert on her sailings and loadings but surely there must some some firsts in there somewhere. All I know is that we had a most enjoyable trip meeting QE2 and escorting her to berth on Sunday morning and her crew are to be congratulated on delivering a great experience to all her passengers on what must have been a really gruelling day for them.

A view on board Balmoral during the morning cruise

Balmoral dashes off from Greenock at the end of her 1st cruise of the day, heading for Glasgow with a few stalwarts on board - some of whom, I think, probably stayed aboard for all three cruises. Dedication, dedication....!

Balmoral is now at her winter lay up berth in Bristol - she may not have had the best of seasons, weatherwise, but her last day in service was one of the best days for sailing for a long, long time.

Many thanks again to John Newth and John Crae for allowing me to use their photographs on the PSPS Blog

More of John Newth's photos can be seen at http://clydesights.com/ and

John Crae's at http://jcrae.smugmug.com/

Charles McCrossan

Lochranza - At Last!!

The motor ship Balmoral is also operated by Waverley Excursions and sails in support of the PS Waverley. Since Lochranza pier re-opened, there have been a number of planned sailings to Lochranza by the Balmoral during her normal September weekend visit to the Clyde but none of these have actually taken place, mostly due to weather conditions, when alternative cruises have been provided in more sheltered waters.

2008 proved to be the year that Balmoral eventually reached her planned destination and provided us with a very enjoyable cruise for the day, on Sunday 28th September.

However, Lochranza was not Balmoral's only unusual call for the day - she also made a call at Clydebank on her way down river from Glasgow.

Unfortunately it was not clear where Balmoral would actually call

and a number of us waited to see her come alongside

the restored Titan crane at Clydebank

- a great location in perfect sunlight.

In the end she arrived and berthed unexpectedly at the edge of Rothesay Dock,

resulting in a mad dash to try and catch a photo looking straight into the sun

After her Clydebank call,
Balmoral speeds off for her next call at Greenock


Balmoral arriving at Greenock

Balmoral at Lochranza

One of the least interested residents at Lochranza!

There were actually 4 deer together in this area but they were among

various obstructions which spoiled the line-up with the ship

Just what Clyde Cruising is all about - sitting in the sun,

enjoying the scenery and fresh air, passing the time of day with friends,

putting the world of coastal cruising to rights,

recounting exploits and previous journeys and planning for the next trip

A compilation of some short video clips taken during the Lochranza visit,

starring a few local heros (but no deer!) who pull out the stops

to make Waverley and Balmoral trips

1 possible and

2 memorable

Thanks to all concerned for another great trip.

Charles McCrossan