The paddle steamer Waverley at 50 with Paul Semple, General Manager: Tuesday 9 December 2025

For her 50th year in preservation, highlights of the world's last seagoing paddle-steamer Waverley's season were first-ever visits to Carbost, Salen and Rochester, returns to Crinan, Fishguard, Torquay and Folkestone and liaisons with famous sister vessels, while 39% of sailings were sold out and media attention included the circumnavigation of Great Britain to avoid storms forecast for the south-west.

The season began in accordance with recent tradition in the Inner Hebrides, with the actual date 22 May hailed by a watercannon salute off Oban. Then it was off from Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree and Ullapool, normally her northern limit, with a big turnout even at Gairloch, down to Armadale and with the assistance of local tenders to Fort William. In a first, at Salen a local school group chanted the ship's name in welcome.

Heading now furth of Scotland, a wildlife cruise was on offer from Milford Haven, but the first problem in the shape of a leaking valve required attention at Sharpness Shipyard where the opportunity was taken to refit the toilets.

A sail on the Bristol Channel exemplifies the problems associated with the Severn's tidal range, second highest in the world. Impacts of Victorian infrastructure are seen in the 66 steps at Clevedon Pier, and while Penarth allows a hose for fresh water, fuel and stores can be taken on only at Cardiff. On Saturday 21 June she couldn't be late leaving Clevedon in the morning due to falling tide, cruised Holm Islands but then couldn't be early arriving at Penarth due to requiring a rising tide, while after a brief call at Portishead in the narrow tidal window Waverley headed up the River Severn timed to turn at high tide up stream of the motorway crossings. A return to Penarth necessary before the tide dropped once again.

The remote island of Lundy situated on the edge of the Atlantic and Bristol Channel has been a popular calling point for paddle steamers of the past and once again in 2025 Waverley took capacity crowds out to explore the island. A rope round one paddle wheel resulted in some repairs being needed and brought the early season southern sailings to a close.

Arriving on the Clyde for the main season, the cruise-ship Queen Anne was escorted before a visit to the locally-supported pier at Tighnabruaich which, not being in the best of condition, suffered movement of a pile so had to be closed for a survey. Troon is visited no more than annually due to the present diversion of Arran ferries while for that reason Ardrossan sees little other traffic. Ayr has enjoyed a revival of interest in recent years with increased sailings and cruise destinations.

Late August sees Waverley head south, but a forecast of storms required a diversion the long way round the top of Scotland with a rare call at Dundee and a rendezvous at Scarborough with a contemporary the Yorkshire Belle. On the River Dart she met her sole surviving sister paddler the centenarian Kingswear Castle, then it was on to Torquay, Weymouth and the South Coast with another encounter, this time with Clydebuilt contemporary the sludgeboat SS Shieldhall celebrating her 70th Anniversary.

Reaching the Thames provided the greatest highlight, the floodlit opening of Tower Bridge and a VE day commemoration was attended by Winston Churchill's great grandson at Rochester. In a further mishap before heading back to Scotland a weld cracked, causing a bracket to be clipped by paddles which resulted in three days' lost sailing, and on her final run of the season a mast was found to be rotten.

In total the 2025 season saw 123 days operated, 16 complete cancelled sailings - 9 weather, 7 technical/operational-and 161950 passenger journeys (highest since 1996) Total revenue was £5.15M (fares £3.6M, catering £1.25M, shop £291k), average per day at £41,855 up over £2k on 2024, highest £92,666 11 October London to Whitstable.

During 2025 Waverley was drydocked at Dales of Greenock for 16 days at a total cost of £364k comprising aft hull blasting and full hull painting £97k, new facias £73k, dock preparation, rental and services £47k gritblasting and painting paddle wheels £26k, belting repairs £17k, paddle wheel survey and repairs £16k funnel painting £8k, repairs to paddlebox steel £6k paddle-board replacements x 2 £4k.

The 2025 season's rounded costs comprised 70 crew £784k, fuel £629k, berth dues and pilotage £347k, marketing and printing £264k, coaches £254k, renewals and repairs £205k.

Winter refit 2025/6 periodic items include the main engine, capstan, air pump, electric feed pump, paddlebox steel work and fuel tanks. Other works include deck repairs, those to crossover pipe, fitting of load-balancing controls to boilers, refitting the crew mess room, replacing the sprinkler system and port spring beam, new masts and replacing most dining saloon windows. An appeal, the first to be needed in several years, seeking £135k towards masts and windows raised £50k in a week.

In addition to donations Waverley also receives help in kind from the likes of The Tall Ship Glenlee and Diageo's coppersmiths at Alloa. Waverley never says never to returning to destinations formerly served, and it would be particularly good to see the pier at Helensburgh closed since 2018 restored to the circuit. Ships are wood and metal, and so long as the will is there these can be renewed indefinitely. For the future a greater challenge may be crewing, especially the availability of steam engineers.

For further information on the Waverley visit the Waverley Excursions website.

To view Paul's presentation, click on the Video Icon below.

Report by John Yellowlees.