Waverley Updates - 2018

[Clydebuilt1971]

Thanks for the update Gavin.

That's a shame, I was looking forward to my first and last trip of this year. I'm finding it very difficult to get aboard nowadays, and have only made it on for 2 hours in the past 5 years.  The fact that I refuse to travel on her on a Saturday on the Clyde doesn't help!

How long stuck would she need to be before the profits from the south season were cancelled out?  Or is the risk more that she just stops trying to return North at all...

Hi Rob,

The Thames sailings looked busy in any photos I saw however not sure about her South Coast sailings. As Tramscape says she repositioned to Soton as of yesterday AM - I don't know if that was due to the harbourmaster at Weymouth not wanting her on that berth with the weather closing in or he wanted to charge her dues!! Perhaps the berth at Soton is either cheaper or indeed free.

Her crew wont be due to pay off until Monday earliest so I guess barring berthing dues she will be practically cost neutral as the boilers will be in pier mode which means they will burn a lot less fuel. I guess the main losses are not being able to undertake her sailings this weekend although the weather forecast would've probably put the lid on those anyway.

I really hope she gets a chance to go for it before there are crewing issues as there were in 2014.

She'll get back home at some point as she cant stay down south indefinitely - theres a winter refit to start!!!

But as always crew and ship safety are paramount.

Gav

[Thomas Hypher]

Some of my photos of Waverley in Southampton late this afternoon:

Southampton Cruise Ship departures on 15/10/2018 by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

Southampton Cruise Ship departures on 15/10/2018 by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

Southampton Cruise Ship departures on 15/10/2018 by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

The crew still seem to be onboard as she isn't dead ship due to her own deck lights being on.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Fabulous pictures, Thomas! You got great angles there.

And what a beautiful little ship she is -- I hope I'll get the chance to meet her in person one day...

[Clydebuilt1971]

Excellent shots Thomas,

No news yet as to when the weather window may open long enough for her to get away.

The longer she remains in Soton the more likely that she will require to be de-manned as per 2014 as the crew will be due to pay off. Most of them are seasonal and therefore have winter jobs on other ships (or indeed go back to uni in the case of some of the catering ratings)

In that case a new skeleton crew will be required to take her home when conditions allow.

At least she is safe where she is for now so that's the most important thing.

Gav

[Bruce Nicholls]

I would guess from looking at the Met Office forecasts that they are going to be pushed to find a window when they will have acceptable weather for the whole distance. When its good in the south it's bad up north and visa versa. If I were panning to do the trip I would aim for halfway using a southern fair weather window and wait there for improved conditions in the north. Safe havens are a problem with a larger vessel but surely somewhere like Milford Haven or Holyhead are good halfway points?

[Clydebuilt1971]

HI Bruce,

She went back via Ilfracombe when this last happened in 2014. I think she took bunkers at that point also as having to return to Soton from Weymouth would've burned up fuel they hadn't anticipated.

Imagine something similar will happen this time.

All will become clear at some point soon I hope.

I just pray that there isn't a following sea - bad for wheels and engineer's heads!!!

Gav

[Thomas Hypher]

Fabulous pictures, Thomas! You got great angles there.

And what a beautiful little ship she is -- I hope I'll get the chance to meet her in person one day...

Town Quay is a great vantage point for the Ocean Terminal area!

I would love to go onboard Waverley someday.

[Clydebuilt1971]

I've heard that Waverley is due to depart Soton at 4pm today.

Heres hoping she gets a good run back to Glasgow.

Gav

[Rob Lightbody]

I've heard that Waverley is due to depart Soton at 4pm today.

Heres hoping she gets a good run back to Glasgow.

Gav

Fair seas to her, I will be following with interest!

[June Ingram]

Wonderful photos, Thomas !  Thanks for sharing.  Waverley is indeed a proud little ship ! She is holding her own next to the big girl ! 

[tramscape]

She's on her way and the photos are streaming in on facebook

I always think of Waverley as being quite a big ship !

[Rob Lightbody]

She's on her way and the photos are streaming in on facebook

I always think of Waverley as being quite a big ship !

Watching her on my MarineTraffic app !

[Rob Lightbody]

Nearly 14 knots!

[Rob Lightbody]

Waverley made it back to the Clyde, and to her berth at the Science Centre next to Queen Mary, in amazingly quick time.  Each time I looked on Marine Tracker, she was doing around 14 knots.  Must feel like quite an adventure to be on board for a trip like that - going so, so much further than she was built to, with the deadlights fitted and no passengers.

[tramscape]

Rob, she usually cruises at a bit above 14 knots - 14.5 being about standard

Don't know about the crew - but I would be petrified on a trip like that !