Waverley returned to Swanage for the first time in four years around 12.30pm on Sunday 4th September during a cruise from Southampton and Yarmouth to view the Bournemouth Air Show.
Captain Dominic McCall berthed her alongside faultlessly despite a fresh breeze setting the ship off the pier.
Here are a few more pictures of this happy event:
Swanage Pier Trust Company Secretary Frank Snart was on hand to welcome the ship and make sure that everything ran smoothly.
As was Waverley’s General Manager Paul Semple who had come down from Scotland specially to help establish a rapport with all the places at which Waverley is scheduled to call on her visit south.
Waverley is sailing on the South Coast until 21st September after which she makes off to offer cruises on the Thames until Sunday 9th October. She is just so big as paddle steamers go and is accordingly so expensive to operate as a preserved ship that she needs all the revenue she can get, and more, to stay in business. If you can, do find time to take a trip back in time aboard her in this short season away from her home on the Clyde and enjoy the experience and delights of sailing aboard a giant paddle steamer from another age. You can buy tickets at their website waverleyexcursions.co.uk
Kingswear Castle returned to service in 2023 after the first part of a major rebuild which is designed to set her up for the next 25 years running on the River Dart. The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust is now fund raising for the second phase of the rebuild. You can read more about the rebuilds and how you can help if you can here.
John Megoran
