Only 40 souls braved the rain to join the steamer at Ayr. The wind of the previous night had dropped completely and the sea was an oily calm as the steamer set course for Brodick. Unfortunately, the overnight rain continued to fall. 24 passengers and a black and white dog joined the ship here for Largs, Dunoon and Carrick Castle.

Fortunately rather more passengers were forthcoming at Largs. As there was plenty of time in hand, Waverley was able to revisit Innellan on the way to Dunoon, where she arrived just ahead of CalMac’s Jupiter inbound from Gourock.

After the passage up and down Lochs Long and Goil to Carrick Castle, there was time for a turn around Holy Loch where Western Ferries’ Sound of Shuna was lying at Kilmun Pier.

Joe “don’t put this on the web site” McKendrick told me of the tribute paid to Captain Campbell of Kilmun, one of the founders of White Funnel Steamers, by Captain Davis of the Balmoral.

The steamer continued to Dunoon, Largs and Brodick, where she had to wait for CalMac’s Caledonian Isles to clear the Pier for Ardrossan. In the foreground, one of Waverley’s pilot ladders is strung out to receive attention.

Alongside Brodick Pier, the windsock hung motionless. The paddler regained Ayr on time at 9pm, just as dusk fell. The turn in the Harbour was accomplished with ease in the flat calm conditions.

[signature name=”Martin Longhurst”]

 
This article was first published on Martin Longhurst’s Waverley – The Unofficial Site.