Our Paddler Returns.......

Waverley returned from her South Coast and Thames season yesterday (Wednesday) in readiness for her final weekend of sailings for 2009.

Alasdair MacKenzie captured her as she approached Greenock.

Welcome the only seagoing Transtlantic Liner aboard the only seagoing Paddle Steamer!

Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 will visit the Clyde for the first time on Monday 19th October. The 150,000grt vessel is the first true Transatlantic Ocean Liner built since QE2 and is now the only one after the latter's retirement from the Cunard fleet last November.

To mark her 5th year in service Queen Mary 2 is taking a round UK cruise and will make a few first calls at UK ports including Greenock.

Queen Mary 2 will arrive at Greenock Ocean Terminal at 8am and will leave again at 6.30pm amidst a firework display - this time is later than the originally scheduled 6.15pm departure to allow for the fireworks.

Waverley will leave Glasgow at 11am on a cruise taking her past the Queen Mary 2 affording her passengers good views of the giant vessel (and QM2's passengers who dont go ashore for the day good views of Waverley!) returning to Glasgow at 3pm. There is an evening cruise leaving Glasgow at 4pm and Greenock at 5.40pm to escort QM2 down river.
Check the Waverley Excursions Website for further information and to book.

Here are some pictures taken by myself on a Caribbean cruise on QM2 in March 2008.

Taken from one of the vessel's tenders whilst anchored off Tortola.

Queen Mary 2 alongside Celebrity Constellation at St KittsAnchored off St Lucia.

So get your tickets and join in!

Gavin 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.

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

Waverley in the Bristol Channel

(Photos reproduced with kind permission of Chris Jones)


On Thursday June 4th Waverley arrived in the Bristol Channel to undertake two weeks of cruises. The following three shots show her arrival at Avonmouth.







Moving on to Monday 8th June and the following shots show our paddler approaching, arriving and departing Penarth.





Off she goes to Clevedon and then onwards to Avonmouth for bunkers.

Thanks again to Chris for the photos.
Waverley's first sailing of her 62nd Clyde Season is the annual branch mid-summer evening charter on Tuesday 23rd June - details to follow.


Gavin Stewart

JOIN THE GLASGOW FAIR FRIDAY FOLK BOAT!!

The Waverley Study Group proudly present the Folk Boat '09!

Sail Doon the Watter on the famous Paddle Steamer Waverley and enjoy a great night's music into the bargain!

See flier above for details of how to get your ticket for this unique event.

All monies raised will go towards the ongoing preservation and operation of Waverley.

Society Paddler embarks on 25th Sailing Season!

(pics courtesy of Capt John Megoran)

As you may or may not know the PSPS have another paddlesteamer by the name of Kingswear Castle. This immaculate little paddler is based at Chatham Historic Dockyard and was built in 1924 for service on the River Dart along with two sister ships ps Compton Castle & ps Totnes Castle.

The PSPS bought the ship in 1967 and returned her to service in 1985. More on her history can be found here.


I've just received an email advising that the ship has completed her trials this morning and has had her passenger certificate issued for season 2009.

Her first sailings of the new season start on Saturday (11th April) and continue over the Easter weekend in conjunction with a steam event at Chatham Historic Dockyard over this weekend.



As the title suggests this is Kingswear Castle's 25th year of full operation so what better excuse do you need to go for a sail!! More details of sailings etc can be found on the Kingswear Castle Website.



Congrats to Kingswear Castle and to Capt John Megoran who also celebrates his 25th season at the helm of the company as well!! All the Best for 2009 from the Scottish Branch.

Gavin Stewart

PRESS RELEASE FROM WAVERLEY EXCURSIONS

Waverley's proposed sailings from Oban in May have had to be postponed due to the time required to effect the repairs to her boilers.

The complete Western Isles programme has been moved to the final weekend in May - details can be found here.

Read the Official Press Release here.

If you have any questions or queries regarding bookings for the original dates please contact the Waverley Excursions office on 0845 130 4647 please do not email this site.