12 Sep Historic Paddle Steamer Waverley arrives into Poole
At 15:25 this afternoon, PS Waverley arrived into Poole from Swanage.
PS Waverley, the world’s last seagoing, passenger carrying paddle-steamer, has arrived into Poole after setting sail on Friday morning from Southampton.
Paul Semple, General Manager at Waverley Excursions Ltd, said: “I am delighted that Waverley is being welcomed back to Poole for her first cruises from the Harbour in well over 10 years. Waverley has just made a successful start to her south coast season with several sailings fully booked. I am very grateful for the support of the Poole Harbour Commissioners to enable the World’s last seagoing paddle steamer to return to Poole. We look forward to welcoming passengers aboard over two dates (13th and 14th September) with Waverley offering cruises to the Isle of Wight.”
PHC’s Harbour Master, Captain Brian Murphy, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome the PS Waverley back to Poole Harbour and to see her back on Town Quay, providing an incredible experience for visitors to the Quay and passengers alike. We wish Waverley Excursions Ltd every success with the South Coast Sailings and with the remainder of the season.”
The sailing on the 13th September around the Isle of Wight has proven very popular, with as it stands over 350 passengers booked.
Waverley will operate on the South Coast offering a variety of sailings from Southampton, Portsmouth, Yarmouth, Swanage and Poole until Wednesday 21st September. Thereafter she will move to the Thames and operate on London’s river until Sunday 9th October .Waverley is named after Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley novels. She was built in 1946 to replace the 1899 Waverley which was sunk by enemy action on 29th May 1940, at Dunkirk. She sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973. In 1974, at the end of her working life, she was famously gifted for £1 to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, a charity registered in Scotland, was set up to own and operate the ship. 2003 saw the completion of a £7m Heritage Rebuild which returned Waverley to the original 1940s style in which she was built.
