Waverley’s season is progressing well although General Manager Paul Semple and his team have been having to work very hard to keep operations going. There has been a period of very fine weather and bookings are picking up well. The office has been extremely busy processing bookings and taking calls.

Advance booking is strongly advised for all sailings because of significantly reduced capacity, due to Covid restrictions. Please book on-line if you can, at waverleyexcursions.co.uk where full details of her cruises can also be found. Otherwise call 0141 243 2224. Some sailings now sold out or heavily booked include July 26 (Round Ailsa Craig), August 1 (Round Inchmarnock) and August 2 (Campbeltown).

Of particular interest to PSPS members, on Sunday 15th August 2021 Waverley will make her first visit to Ardrishaig for many years. All are welcome to join this Scottish Branch charter of Waverley to raise funds to support her continued preservation. You do not need to be a PSPS member. The paddler will depart from Glasgow, calling at Greenock, Largs and Tarbert with an hour ashore at Ardrishaig. For further details please click here. At the moment there are only 50 tickets left to be sold for the charter, if capacity remains restricted.

Waverley’s first PSPS charter in the preservation era on 24 May 1975 was also to Ardrishaig and this occasion is recalled in these pictures by John Goss. Note the differences in the colour scheme (white deckhouses), smoke from both funnels and the four lifeboats.

PSPS members with Sailing Passes and Go Anywhere Vouchers and Life Commodore ticket-holders are kindly requested to pre-book a place in advance given the reduced capacity. Please email info@waverleyexcursions.co.uk or call 0141 243 2224 to book your place. Please note that Passes and Vouchers are not valid on the Tighnabruaich Pier Association charter on 14 August nor the PSPS charter on 15 August.