2. Ships

Waverley in the Hebrides 2009

Voyages of the World's Last Seagoing Paddle Steamer in the waters around Scotland's Western Highlands and Islands

NOTE: Initially only 2009 pictures of Waverley's most recent visit - in the near future pictures of all of her visits to the Hebrides since the very first one in 1981 will appear here check back!
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Astor anchored in Oban Bay
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Astor anchored in Oban Bay

  • Due to unexpected problems with her 2 Cochran boilers, Waverley's planned visit to the Western Isles at the traditional time of the first weekend in May had to be cancelled. The short tour went ahead at the end of the month when, fortunately, the weather was much better. However as she prepared for the departure from her home base at Glasgow Plantation Quay the skies were filled with grey mist which did not clear until she reached the Kilbrannan Sound. In this picture a queue stretching back to the Millenium Bridge was waiting to board the paddler for her first sailing of 2009.
  • Although the weather on first part of the long sailing from Glasgow to Oban, round the world famous Mull of Kintyre, was misty, dull and cool, a general improvement commenced as the paddler passed Lochranza and entered the Kilbrannan Sound a general improvement started to develop. When she reached Oban at the end of the 13 hour voyage the general conditions were significantly improved and settled - it looked good for the programme of sailings over the next few days.
  • On arrival at Oban about 13 hours after leaving Glasgow Waverley found Cal Mac's Clansman and Isle of Mull at the Railway Pier - the former was immobilised with an engine fault at the time.
  • Waverley at Oban North Pier after the sail round from Glasgow - a fine summer evening when the Scottish west coast is unsurpassable. Memories started to flood back of the first visit of Waverley to the Western Highlands and the Hebrides in spring 1981 and of many good times in the intervening years with friends from all over the UK and Europe - touched by thoughts of those who can no longer join us on those memorable excursions.
  • Waverley at Oban North Pier on Saturday 30th May , preparing to go round Ardnamurchan to Skye and Loch Nevis
  • By this time Clansman had moved to the 'Lighthouse' pier to continue engine repairs. Engine exhaust was still a bit dirty but more grey than black
  • Due to the lack of berths at Oban the CalMac ferry Lord of the Isles had gone to anchor overnight in Ardantraive Bay, Kerrera - near the terminal for the new Glasgow - Oban seaplane service.
  • An unusual view of a CalMac vessel at anchor - taken from Waverley, departing for Tobermory. The rhododrendrons were in full bloom in great abundance around Oban - and some on Kerrera
  • More 'rhodies' in Oban
  • View astern from the World's Last Seagoing Paddle Steamer to the UK's most remote settlement, Inverie on Loch Nevis, the loch of heaven. The only routes into the village are by sea or over a long rough mountain track
  • Late that day, after her visit to Armadale (Skye) and Inverie in Loch Nevis, Waverley passed Lord of the Isles in the Sound of Mull off Drimnin at around 2200. Lottie was sailing unscheduled times due to Clansman's non availability.
  • Waverley at Oban North Pier at the end of a wonderful day - on only the second day of her 2009 season she had carried almost 1000 passengers.
  • The west coast of Scotland from late May to end June is awesome on fine days of long daylight - this is Waverley at Oban North pier at 2300 on 30th May.
  • In recent years Oban has become a regular daytime visitor stop off for increasing numbers of cruise ships. On Sunday 31st May 2009 two liners visited Oban simultaneously. The largest was the Nassau-registered Astor, seen here at anchor off the North Pier - she is the largest vessel that I have ever seen in Oban Bay - most of the big vessels anchor outside the bay to the north of Kerrera..<br /> <br /> Astor with McCaig's Tower on the hill beyond. <br /> <br /> The vessel was launched 23 years earlier (31st May 1986) at the Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft, Germany (Yard No 218) for the South African Marine Corporation. The vessel was sold before completion to a company in Port Louis, Mauritius and she began her career as a Carribean cruise ship instead of the intended Durban - Southampton service. By 1988 she was owned by the Black Sea Shipping Co of Odessa and renamed Fedor Dostoevskiy. Since 1995 she has been cruising for Aquamarin under her original name, Astor.<br /> See <br /> <a href="http://www.doverferryphotos.co.uk/pastandpresent/astor.htm">http://www.doverferryphotos.co.uk/pastandpresent/astor.htm</a><br /> for more information.
  • Astor's passengers were ferried ashore to 'Granny Spencer's' slipway by her own tenders. More information here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Astor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Astor</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/TransoceanTours.html#anchor139855">http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/TransoceanTours.html#anchor139855</a>
  • Two liners at Oban Astor at anchor and Quest alongside North Pier
  • MV Quest at Oban North Pier
  • Clansman at the Lighthouse pier (engine repairs) and Astor in the bay
  • Astor anchored in Oban Bay
  • Mull ferry Isle of Mull passing Astor in the bay
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