FIFTY years ago today the PS Waverley was bought for just £1 and the vessel is embarking on a special anniversary sailing to mark the occasion.
The world's last seagoing paddle steamer is now a multi-million pound operation with with escalating fuel costs, maintenance, and ongoing preservation.
The support of the great seagoing public plays a massive part in its present and future.
Launched from the Glasgow yard of A. & J. Inglis in August 1946, the Waverley set sail for the first time on June 16 of the following year.
And she’s off for today’s special sailing to mark the 50th Anniversary since Waverley was purchased for £1 and her preservation career began.
— Paddle Steamer Waverley (@PS_Waverley) August 8, 2024
Join Waverley at Dunoon (1100), Largs (1200), Ardrossan (1310) or Brodick (1430). Tickets are available on board. pic.twitter.com/6RT5rBLWJc
To mark the special day, a special anniversary cruise is taking place on the west of Scotland.
The iconic paddle steamer set off today from Greenock at around 10am before stopping off in Largs and heading to Ardrossan for the first time in over a decade.
She will then sail across to Brodick before cruising down the Arran coastline, offering passengers a unique view of Pladda Lighthouse and sail round Holy Isle.
Steamer enthusiast and Waverley tour guide Ian Quinn said the vessel is still popular with locals and visitors and sleeker booking systems has helped improve access.
He said: "The one thing that the value of the Waverley has increased in is the level of pre-bookings.
"As an observer, the pandemic meant that people pre-booked for things and that has remained.
"Prior to that you put the gangway out on the Clyde and you took what you got, and the level of pre-booking was lower.
"As if you are running a charity like the Waverley then it is good to have a foundation and you can top it up later.
"When you have the likes of the recent winch problem from the Thursday to the following Monday when the Waverley was out of action, we had a couple of those sailings sold out, and ticket holders are able to transfer them to another day.
"When there is down time particularly if it is a protracted level, you are paying for days the ship is not operating and the management have coped with that very well but it is a challenge as there is no income either during those days and plenty of outgoings."
Although the Waverley is now 77 years old, many features onboard are new and improved.
Ian added: "There is new radar and technical equipment, and boilers and it is no longer coal-fired.
"She is improving all the time but the engines and paddles are still the same and long may that be so.
"If you sell the tickets then she is viable, and the more sold out she is, the more viable she becomes, and of course, on the Clyde Coast, you are at the mercy of the weather.
"The thing about the Firth of Clyde is that it allows sheltered water cruising even in the worst of weather as we witnessed with a recent trip to Tarbert."
Ian also highlighted that the operation relies on a lot of support from the public and charities.
Ian said: "When CalMac handed over the Waverley to the Preservation Society all these years ago in 1973, it was the bargain of the last century.
"Keeping her going now is less of a bargain as it is now a multi-million pound operation, but the charity is so well respected that we are very grateful for the donations we do have. The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, who took the challenge on from CalMac, work very hard throughout the year.
"You have fuel, crew, insurance, maintenance, and it all doesn't come cheap. And 2023 was a very good year for the Waverley and I'd expect 2024 should be a reasonably good one too, with the hope that the sun continues to shine on us too."
Ken Yates. who is a retired company director of a hardwood merchant in Jamestown, Alexandria, has been a member of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for decades.
He was enjoying the sailing on Tuesday from Largs to Tarbert.
He said: "When I was working we supplied a lot of timber to the Waverley and we introduced the Opepe timber for the paddle floats.
"The original paddle floats which were Canadian rock elm, which is no longer commercially available, meant a lot of things had to be tried and Opepe did the job.
"I used to tell the Waverley whatever you need we will supply, if you are any difficulty throughout the season leave it and pay us at the end of the season.
"On a number of occasions, we wrote it off as it was the thing to do as we had to keep her going.
"It is without a doubt labour of love but I will say one thing for her she will see us all out, she will keep going."
Ken, 74, added that he's travelled on all the big steamers in the Clyde in the 50s and 60s, including Duchesses, Queen Mary and Caledonia, which were all operated by Caledonian Steam Packet Company.
He said: "The two turbine ships Duchess of Montrose and The Duchess of Hamilton were fantastic ships and they competed against each other racing from Largs Pier - oh it was a fantastic sight.
"You used to be able to get on at Rothesay, Campbeltown, or Inveraray, come across on one of the 'Maids' from Rothesay to Largs, and go back on a Duchess at 6pm at night.
"We used to always have our favourite paddle steamer and my favourite was always the Waverley because I always liked the modern stern of the ship."
"The Waverley is so popular because it is a great reminder of the past and the last survivor from a golden period of the steamers.
"There will never be another one and that is why it is so important that we help maintain that legacy."
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