AWEEKS SAILING ON THE WAVERLEY.

[Walter Snowdon]

Last Tuesday (20th June) I finshed my weeks volunteer work on the Waverley. This entailed living aboard for the week and running the Souvenir shop aboard and helping out with loading and unloading passengers and acting as a walking information centre to promote the preservation and operations of paddle steamers. On three of the six working days aboard, we sailed with  maximum passengers aboard (700) which went a long way toward her upkeep. We sailed to and from many ports and resorts in the Bristol channel an Wales, and a couple of visits to Lundy Island. On Sunday evening We sailed (empty) from Milford Haven in wales to go to belfast, Northern Ireland. We ran slap into a heavy Atlantic swell and gale which we had to sail straight into for three hours , sticking her bows out of the water and pounding a lot and rolling her sponson boxes right under. We then turned north to run up the Irish sea.  This eased matters somewhat as the swell and wind were from astern. The old girl performed beautifully and fully lived up to her claim as THE LAST SEAGOING PADDLE STEAMER IN THE WORLD!!! At Belfast we did a charter sailing for the society of Master Mariners (about 270 old salts) before sailng overnight to Scotland. A truly memorable trip in a lovely ship with a great crew. Cheers for now, Walter.

[Channel]

Hi Walter,

We must have passed each other a number of times when you were in the Bristol Channel.

Have only just joined this group - loads of information. Very interesting  !

Regards

Chris

[Bob Golder]

Glad you enjoyed your working holiday Walter.  Thanks for returning Waverley to her hom port.