Clyde River Steamer Club

After weeks of wind and rain, blighting her early-season schedule, Waverley enjoyed a day of sunshine and satisfaction on Sunday 19 July — a 14-hour sail from Glasgow via Largs to Lochranza and Campbeltown and back. It was the only occasion this summer when she was due to do this trip, and the ship acquitted herself superbly. Call it a classic day on the Firth — the sort of occasion when itinerary, on-board atmosphere, weather and scenery unite to create an experience to remember.

Largs pier 15 minutes before Waverley’s scheduled arrival	Largs pier 15 minutes after Waverley’s scheduled arrival	Garroch Head	Cock of Arran

Approach to Lochranza	Lochranza pier	Heaving line	CalMac friends

CalMac’s Loch Tarbert led us into Lochranza where — unlike the old days when turbines and paddlers would sweep round the bay before berthing bow-out — the shape and angle of the ‘new’ concrete pier oblige Waverley to berth bow-in. In a flawless manoeuvre, Captain Andy O’Brian brought the paddler to a stop exactly opposite the narrow pier-end. Another 40 or so boarded for the trip down Kilbrannan Sound, which began with Loch Tarbert escorting us out of the bay on her crossing to Claonaig. For many it was now time to partake of the chief steward’s popular Sunday roast in the restaurant. Others contented themselves with sandwiches on deck, though the bar in the Jeanie Deans lounge also did good business. All the while, Waverley’s gleaming engines, their three cranks relentlessly pounding at over 40 revolutions per minute, continued to inspire fascinated gazes.

Setting off together	Loch Tarbert	Kilbrannan Sound	Jeanie Deans lounge, looking aft

In true enthusiast style, some Club members had opted for a ‘double-decker’ — outward on Waverley to Campbeltown and return to Ardrossan on CalMac car ferry Isle of Arran (or vice versa), this being the only day in 2015 that such a combination was possible. But it was CRSC honorary secretary Eric Schofield who plotted the most adventurous itinerary — a ‘triple-decker’ that took him on Caledonian Isles’ 9.45am sailing to Brodick, bus to Lochranza, Waverley to Campbeltown and then back to Ardrossan on Isle of Arran. Of course, this wasn’t just a day for enthusiasts. Glasgow grannies — that intrepid breed — sat absorbing the sea air. Young families enjoyed the novelty of open decks. Small groups of all ages chatted and watched and relaxed.

Leaving Arran behind	Campbeltown’s new harbour front	Captain Andy O’Brian on the bridge	Cruise to Sanda

If Campbeltown was reached half an hour late, few noticed. Seals cavorted next to tied-up trawlers. Swedish sail training ship Atlantica hovered in the bay. There was barely a cloud in the sky as Waverley berthed alongside the new harbour front, to the delight of an expectant crowd. Around 300 (including 100 from Campbeltown) took the cruise to the island of Sanda. For those choosing to spend two hours ashore in the Kintyre town, quiet Sunday pleasures beckoned — a walk along the front, an ice cream in a deserted main street, the sight of CalMac’s Isle of Arran arriving stern-in.

Atlantica and Isle of Arran	Palmy weather	Campbeltown Loch at 5pm	Return to Lochranza

No sooner had she departed for Ardrossan than Waverley hove into view for her return voyage, and soon we were steaming back along Kilbrannan Sound, the westerly winds now more gentle and the ship’s decks positively oozing contentment. Amid talk of the CalMac ferry scene, at least one group of enthusiasts could be heard reminiscing about the early 1960s, when a 15-year old Waverley would relieve the Gourock-based turbines on late-season sailings to Lochranza and Campbeltown, struggling to maintain their schedule. Today’s 68-year old paddler was nowhere near maintaining her own schedule. After a glorious sail back from Lochranza with a following wind, she arrived at Largs a good 50 minutes late.

Homeward bound	Ian Hall behind the counter	Chief engineer Alex Snedden	Evening sun

As the sun started its descent to the west and Waverley headed up-river, time as measured by the clock didn’t seem to matter. More than 400 souls could reflect on a day that had more than fulfilled their hopes — reviving feelings of pride in the Clyde and gratitude that we still have our own very dear pleasure steamer.

Andrew Clark

 

 

Some Club members and friends

Cameron Marshall and Charles McCrossan	Davie Wright, Roy Paterson, Kenny Morrison, Ann Laing	Ian Wilson and George Boswell	Eric Schofield and John Russell
Robert Marshall and Margaret Skee	Colin Smith (centre) with Hamish and Walter Bowie	Rob Beale and Ron Walker — plus one of Waverley’s new lifebelts	Ian Milne and Craig Osborne

Waverley at Lochranza in 1956		Waverley at Campbeltown in 1962

 

 

In addition to the photographs provided by Andrew, the selection below shows some other aspects of the day from the perspective of out by Waverley from Glasgow and return by Isle of Arran to Ardrossan.  Photographs:  Charles McCrossan

Fairly large bulker, Golden Eclipse, unloading at Shieldhall	Coaster, Raba, loading logs in the Great Harbour, Greenock	Palletised cargo ship, Skog, at Greenock Ocean Terminal	Western Ferries, Sound of Seil
Loch Riddon taking the long way around to pass astern of Waverley – seen here off Aubrey Pond, Largs	Probably the nearest you can get to a “race for the pier” these days – Waverley follows behind Loch Tarbert as both vessels make for their respective berths (slip) at Lochranza	Loch Tarbert heads back to Claonaig	Cable layer. Nexans Skagerrak, seen off the Argyllshire coast
Coaster, Eems Star, at Campbeltown	Waverley setting out on her Sanda cruise	Waverley setting out on her Sanda cruise	Lady McCartney Memorial Garden, Campbeltown
Isle of Arran arriving at Campbeltown	Isle of Arran arriving at Campbeltown	Waverley returning to Campbeltown	Coaster, Raba, seen earlier loading logs in Greenock now passing south end of Arran