“LAZING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON”


Waverley alongside Largs pier, with Loch Tarbert “stuck” to the south side

Well, what is the best way to spend a ‘lazy Sunday afternoon’? Listening to The Kinks (I hope you got the tenuous link), or going for a sail on a famous paddler? Well, it has to be the Waverley, hasn’t it? Like many Club members, Stuart Craig went for the latter, as he describes here.

The cruise Round Bute is one of my favourites, and CRSC chose this route for a Nominated Excursion on Sunday 16 August – not that I had any influence, they never listen to me! Some had started their day at Greenock, and a few at Rothesay, but as is often the case it was Largs where the biggest crowds assembled.

Isle of Cumbrae heading out from Largs past the bow of Waverley

Before we stepped aboard the dear old ship there were significant ferry movements at the pier to interest those who might be interested. Three CalMac ferries were in evidence. Loch Tarbert was stuck to the south end of Largs pier, seemingly a touch out of sorts, Loch Shira was running the main service and the elder of the fleet, Isle of Cumbrae, was providing back up. Despite her advancing years and more come-backs than Frank Sinatra, the ‘Cumbrae’ looked smart and quite at home serving the island she was built for back in 1977.

Onto the deck we piled, and Waverley set course down the west side of Cumbrae under the experienced eye of Captain Bruce Clark. I scanned the decks for fellow CRSC members and was soon bumping into them all over the ship. Around 25 of us had opted for the lazy Sunday afternoon choice.

The Club pennant flying proudly above Waverley‘s wheelhouse

There is no doubt that Waverley is looking very smart these days. As she rounded the south end of Cumbrae and into The Tan, she parted the waves with a swagger and a poise to the ‘thrum-thrump’ of beating paddles, announcing to those who sail on her, or simply watch her swish past, that she intends to be here for a long time yet. They may take her piers, but they’ll never take her freedom!

Round Garroch Head and up between the island of Inchmarnock and the west coast of Bute, the sun tried its best to shake of the ignominy of the previous week’s eclipse and put in a brief appearance. The sea looked milky green with hardly a ripple as Tighnabruaich came in to view ahead.

Then it was time for the customary group photograph of the CRSC members aboard. It has to be said that some had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the camera, and perhaps it would have been more aesthetically agreeable if Robin Copland and Richard Orr had worn long trousers, but the smiling band looked as if they were enjoying their day.

Tighnabruaich formed a backdrop as Club members assembled for the obligatory group photo

Paddling through the narrows of the Kyles of Bute has to be a very special experience, and a crowd assembled on the forward end to marvel at the ‘threading of the needle’. I never tire of seeing this.

CalMac’s Argyle berthing “even more gingerly than usual”

On down the East Kyle and into Rothesay we splashed, forcing CalMac’s Argyle to take up her berth even more gingerly than usual. And back across to Largs, now, taking a very wide sweep past Fairlie and causing a solitary dolphin to pop up to see what that ‘thrump-thrump’ was all about.

It had been a lovely sailing, enjoyed by Club members, and other slightly less nautical people, alike. The atmosphere aboard Waverley on a sailing like this is totally unique. She still has a couple more weeks on the Clyde before her summer season here ends – so go for your own lazy, sunny afternoon.

Stuart Craig is CRSC’s Membership Secretary and Review Editor, as well as being an author in his own right. Stuart served as President of the Club in 2000-01, and is a prolific contributor to the website. A full listing of his articles can be found in the Website Index, where you will also be able to find reports on previous excursions organised for members of CRSC.

If you have not already joined the Club, then why not take advantage of our introductory offer and join CRSC for just £15 (usual rate £35). New members receive a welcome pack which includes the current syllabus of meetings and the latest editions of our two publications — the magazine CLYDE STEAMERS and the REVIEW. In addition to receiving these free each year, members can take advantage of discounted prices for our organised cruises and benefit from special rates for shop items. Joining CRSC will bring you in contact with like-minded steamer and ferry enthusiasts, especially at our popular meetings and excursions.

Published on 19 August 2026