Pete Hamill : Hello!

[June Ingram]

Glorious photo and indeed, quite some list !!   

[No 736]

A couple of pictures taken from Balmoral at almost the same moment.
What a great day we had.
Steve.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Isabelle,

Comparing Balmoral's masts to the Inverkip power station chimney (now also gone) gives you an idea of the list!

Superb photo, Pete, beautiful! I hope you'll be entering the competition. This could be a winner ...

[Clydebuilt1971]

Isabelle,

Comparing Balmoral's masts to the Inverkip power station chimney (now also gone) gives you an idea of the list!

Great photo - Balmoral is a wee star!

Her hull is rumoured to be a modified corvette type so she rolls like a cork but is one of those go anywhere boats! Shes got a fair turn of speed too - especially after having her original Newbury Sirron units replaced with Grennas early 2000s.

In 2007 when we escorted QE2 down river we were "last man standing" as the old girl started to get a bit of speed up around Toward Point - the plucky wee Saturn tried her best but Balmoral was the only one who could stay with her (to a point).

I well remember the horn blowing contest between QE2 and Balmoral that evening - I've got it on video somewhere. A good laugh was had! It wasn't remotely funny just over a year later however. I was never on QE2 but I felt like we'd lost something dear that night as she disappeared into the darkness.

Anyway - I'm babbling again!! (retires off to take the pills again!!)

Gav

[Clydebuilt1971]

A couple of pictures taken from Balmoral at almost the same moment.
What a great day we had.
Steve.

It certainly seems like a number of us were on board Balmoral that day - interesting we have all come to this forum!

Gav

[Pete Hamill]

It's also interesting how we all have the same pictures - I have the identical one to Steve's second picture pinned up on my desk at work.

I may very well drop the Balmoral shot into the competition.

The wee boat I was out on that day had no chance of keeping up, so the shots I have up until Greenock made more and more use of longer zoom settings. I wish we had Balmoral's speed to keep up the chase.
I managed out at night on a covered RIB which certainly had the speed to keep up, but the camera got dumped as taking pictures became impossible! I did get some reasonable fireworks shots though before departure.

It was a great day indeed. Happy days!

Pete

[Clydebuilt1971]

Heres a couple of mine from day while we're on the subject.

1st was taken from Balmoral, QE2 has just rounded Cloch Point and is heading for her berth at Greenock Ocean Terminal. Tug Ayton Cross is in the foreground and Calmac ferry mv Saturn is in the background just beside the large chimney - along with numerous small craft.

2nd  - again from Balmoral shows QE2, Ayton Cross and Saturn again but this time joined by one of Western Ferries vessels - looks like Sound of Sanda ahead and to starboard of Saturn.

Nicer weather than her 2007 visit which was overcast most of the day.

Gav

[June Ingram]

Marvelous photos and commentary !  Thanks very much !