The Waverley this Saturday

Cantata said:
I used to get an annual trip with my mother from Herne Bay to Southend and back on the dear old Mudway Queen.
She ended up in a creek behind Kingsnorth Power Station on the Medway for years and rotted away until the hull was beyond restoration. However funds were granted by the Lottery and a new hull was built from scratch down in Bristol and fitted out with much of the rest of the old ship, work still in progress in her new home at Gillingham Pier, just upstream from the marina.
Sadly though I don't consider her to be the old ship somehow, and even more sadly there seems no prospect of her ever being licensed to carry passengers.
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Came South in '51 to see the Festival of Britain, stayed with an uncle in Whitstable, went to Southend from Herne Bay pier via Chatham.
 
I saw her leave Harwich yesterday. She went into reverse until almost the big container ships at Felixstowe before turning and steaming out. A great sight and very fast. IMG_20170930_114643095.jpg
 

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Cantata said:
I used to get an annual trip with my mother from Herne Bay to Southend and back on the dear old Mudway Queen.
She ended up in a creek behind Kingsnorth Power Station on the Medway for years and rotted away until the hull was beyond restoration. However funds were granted by the Lottery and a new hull was built from scratch down in Bristol and fitted out with much of the rest of the old ship, work still in progress in her new home at Gillingham Pier, just upstream from the marina.
Sadly though I don't consider her to be the old ship somehow, and even more sadly there seems no prospect of her ever being licensed to carry passengers.
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Chatting with members of the South East Tug Society recently, they said the new hull did not contain any old parts, so had to meet modern design standards. If they had included the keel or some ribs, it would have been considered a restoration job. The difference means they can current carry 12 passengers, not the 200+ they were expecting. This is a major financial nightmare for them.
 
Bob Stays said:
I saw her leave Harwich yesterday. She went into reverse until almost the big container ships at Felixstowe before turning and steaming out. A great sight and very fast. View attachment 66557
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Bob Stay, I am putting together a little video of the trio, link to follow, and wondered if I can use you photo as a closing/opening shit? All credited of course:-(
 
Hi,
Apart from being referred to as a "closing/opening shit" , yes of course you can. :-) I attach a second photo which I didn't think was quite as well framed but you can choose. I really hope you enjoyed your trip. She really looked impressive steaming out past Landguard and we could see she had lots of people on board. 2017-09-30 11.46.43.jpg

2017-09-30 11.46.06.jpg

My crewmate - Mark Garrood - took a couple of shots too.
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MoodySabre said:
We had a close encounter with the Waverley in the Kyles of Bute a couple of years ago. She gets about!
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She's based on the Clyde, but spends a few weeks in the spring cruising the west coast - I've done Glasgow to Oban on her thrice - and when the schools go back in Scotland she heads south to do the Bristol Channel, the south coast and the south east of England, before returning for two final trips doon the watter on the Clyde over the last weekend in October.
 
Bob Stays said:
Hi,
Apart from being referred to as a "closing/opening shit" , yes of course you can. :-) I attach a second photo which I didn't think was quite as well framed but you can choose. I really hope you enjoyed your trip. She really looked impressive steaming out past Landguard and we could see she had lots of people on board. View attachment 66573

View attachment 66574

My crewmate - Mark Garrood - took a couple of shots too.
View attachment 66583

View attachment 66584
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Thank you. Film nearly ready for YouTube :-)
 
She looked great alongside at Harwich as I sailed past.

Some years ago I sailed on her up the Bristol Channel from Ilfracombe to Clevedon. My band was booked as the entertainment for the trip. (Turned out one of my band mates had sailed on her on the Clyde as a youngster.) Fortunately we had gaps between sets to explore the ship, admire the view, and see the magnificent engine in action. A grand day out!
 
MoodySabre said:
Looks like you had a lovely say for it. Smashing video Steve. Being an extra in your own film - very Hitcockesque!
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Thank you. The weather down the coast was lovely, very little swell, even the missus liked it! The Waverley certainly gets a move on. "Half ahead" was giving about 14.5kts otg. Impressive.

£50 including return coach to Harwich, fish and chips on board and more pints in the bar then was good for me. That's why a whole bit is missing from the Blackwater to the Thames :-). Superb value for money.

Met David of Mersea and his better half too, it is always good to meet a new forumite

Steve
 
Rhoda Rose said:
Thank you. The weather down the coast was lovely, very little swell, even the missus liked it! The Waverley certainly gets a move on. "Half ahead" was giving about 14.5kts otg. Impressive.

£50 including return coach to Harwich, fish and chips on board and more pints in the bar then was good for me. That's why a whole bit is missing from the Blackwater to the Thames :-). Superb value for money.

Met David of Mersea and his better half too, it is always good to meet a new forumite

Steve
Click to expand...

Hi Steve, we both enjoyed the video
 
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