PSPS Waverley Charters 2012

Friday 9 March 2012

PSPS Waverley Charters 2012

It is now confirmed that the PSPS (Scottish Branch) has organised two charters of Paddle Steamer Waverley this summer.

The first charter is the Branch Mid-Summer fundraising cruise from Greenock, Helensburgh & Blairmore cruising up Loch Long towards Arrochar. This will take place on Thursday 28th June.

The second charter is a day of celebration when on Sunday 8^th July the Scottish Branch and the Clyde River Steamer Club are jointly chartering Waverley for a cruise from Greenock, Helensburgh, Largs and Rothesay to Loch Riddon with the option of landing at Ormidale by tender. This charter will commemorate three events - the 40th Anniversary of the PSPS charter to Ormidale in May 1972, the 80th Anniversary of the founding of the CRSC in 1932, and the 80th Anniversary of the CRSC's first outing which was aboard P.S. Jupiter to Ormidale in 1932. The charter is in conjunction with the Coastal Cruising Association who are chartering the 1938 built M.V. The Second Snark from Greenock to Loch Riddon. The Second Snark will then act as tender to Waverley to allow a limited number of passengers a short time ashore. Tickets will also be sold through the CCA to allow a limited number of passengers to sail outward on either Waverley or The Second Snark and then return on the other vessel. It is hoped that as many members as possible from the PSPS, CRSC and CCA will support this cruise.

Further details of timings and fares for both charters will be released shortly.

The picture below shows Waverley at anchor in Loch Riddon in 1972 on the previous PSPS charter to Ormidale.

Photo by Gordon Wilson

Other photos of Waverley in Loch Riddon are most welcome from members. Email them to pspscruising@hotmail.co.uk. Pictures of Waverley at Ormidale in 1972 or in Loch Riddon will be posted on this blog.

Paul Semple

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The Society

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) is Britain's longest established, largest and most successful steamship preservation group.
A registered charity founded in 1959, we have over 3000 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain.
Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aims
i) to preserve paddle steamers in sailing condition
ii) to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritage
iii) to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

Our Ships

Flagship of our fleet is Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1947 Waverley was gifted to the Society for just £1. As well as operating on her native Clyde each summer she visits other coastal areas around the UK during the spring and autumn each year.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's only operational coal-fired paddle steamer. Built in 1924 to sail on the River Dart she was purchased by the Society in 1967. From 1985 until 2012 she sailed the Thames and Medway. In 2013 Kingswear Castle returned to the Dart where she now operates public sailings during the summer season.

The society is composed of five branches: Scottish, London & Home Counties, Bristol Channel, Wessex & Dart and North England - all of which help raise money to keep our paddle steamers sailing.

The Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch was formed in 1969 by Douglas McGowan, now our Honorary Branch President. In November 1973 Douglas was invited to attend a meeting with CalMac which resulted in Paddle Steamer Waverley being gifted to the PSPS for £1! It was then on 8th August 1974 that the PSPS took ownership of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and her second career in preservation had begun. Since 1974 the Scottish Branch has been directly linked to supporting Waverley.

The Scottish Branch is proud of its achievements. We are an active and forward thinking branch with a thriving membership of over 800 - we are proud to be the branch which secured an operational future for Waverley. Our members are regularly involved with voluntary work which helps ensure Waverley continues to sail. During the summer sailing season we help raise funds through the Society's Grand Draw and our annual fundraising cruise on Waverley. The Branch meets in Glasgow each month during the non-sailing season (October - April) and we extend an invitation to join the Society and indeed join the Scottish Branch.

Friday 9 March 2012