Ships in May 2021

20th May 2021 It's been a long, wet, cool and windy winter and spring during the latest pandemic restrictions in the south of England, but life seems to be getting better as the month of May comes to an end. I knew that several fairly new ships were keeping safe off the coast of Dorset in the UK, and some very new ships were heading into the port of Southampton or the port of Portsmouth last week. There was an appalling weather forecast due all along the English Channel from Thursday 20th May 2021 but I left my home and set off by train for the ports. I haven't been to sea since September 2019. I had several trips booked but all had to be cancelled during 2020 because of the Covid restrictions here in the UK and in other countries. I've had my two vaccinations, and so last week when Government restrictions were lifted I was able to go away from home and hope to go to sea, which was very exciting. In Southampton I met one of my 'shippy' friends and we headed off to a big local hotel for Afternoon Tea, up on the 6th floor. Of course it was raining, and the high winds were gusting all around, but I could see a huge ship through the rain on the windows at one end of the Restaurant Terrace: it was the new P&O ship IONA. Well, that was a good start to seeing the sea and a ship. Next we visited Mayflower Park, which was almost deserted. The rain had stopped for a little while, so I could get a photograph of the MSC VIRTUOSA which was berthed at 101, and seemed to have lots of ropes keeping her safely tied up alongside. She is 181,000 tons and looked huge; she is due to sail soon on her Maiden Voyage in a Covid-secure environment. In fact she sailed on her Maiden Voyage, and the first post-Covid UK cruise, that very evening.

MSC Virtuosa, Berth 101, Southampton

MSC Virtuosa, Berth 101 Way off in the distance behind her I could see the bright pink hull of the ONE COLUMBA, a 2018-built container ship, due to leave on 22nd May for Port Said and the Suez Canal. It felt so strange to look and see a space where the Solent Flour Mills used to be until a few months ago. I remember when I worked as a Purserette on board a Union-Castle Liner many years ago, standing on deck for lifeboat drill before sailing on a Friday at 1, and on the port side we could always see the Solent Flour Mills. However, turning round and looking behind me I could see the white-capped waves and feel so grateful not to be at sea, even here in Southampton Water. It was still not raining and now I could see the RED OSPREY of Red Funnel about to head to the Isle of Wight, P&O's IONA just beyond her, and way off in the distance I could see the huge shape of P&O's other new ship VENTURA.

Red Osprey, Iona, Ventura in the distance The gale force winds and rain was forecast for at least the next two days, and it would be interesting to see what would be able to sail. Certainly we knew that at Portsmouth and Southsea the Hovercraft would not be sailing/flying over to the Isle of Wight. In Port Solent, further along the coast near Portsmouth and Southsea, bags were checked into an hotel, and then we went back to the seaside to look at the sea. The waves were hurling themselves into the water's edge, onto the promenade and over it, into the roadside and filling up the gutters. I remember getting out of the car for a minute just to get a couple of photos of the Brittany Ferries GALICIA heading into Portsmouth Harbour from Santander in Spain. I had to jump across the water and didn't quite make it, so ended up with a little sea in my left boot, but it was the only alternative. The ship looked fairly steady but I didn't envy the passengers on their voyage.

Sea water at Southsea

Galicia of Brittany Ferries heading into Portsmouth Harbour from Santander Back in the car and further along the promenade the sea was hurling itself against the sea wall and rising up high into the air and then onto any traffic that was parked. It was quite dramatic to be safely in a car but flinching as the water hit the windscreen and car body. We soon moved further inland, and found somewhere for an evening meal. Ships seen: Iona, Ventura, Virtuosa, Red Osprey, One Columba, Galicia To be continued...

ORIANA 28th June 2019 (Part 2)

Friday 28th June 2019
My Danish friend was staying at the same hotel as me, and over breakfast I suggested he might like to take a little ferry to Hythe from Town Quay, as he could add it to his Ship List for the year. He was immediately happy with that idea, so we checked out and left luggage at the hotel, and walked down to the water. We saw huge container ships further along Southampton Water, and I warned him that the Hythe ferry was much smaller. We saw the Red Funnel passenger ships heading to and from the Isle of Wight, and I said the Hythe ferry was smaller than these. We saw the fast catamarans heading to and from the Isle of Wight, and again I said the Hythe ferry was smaller than them.

By the time we had passed the Town Quay location of our Union-Castle Line offices, way back in 1998 when the re-launched Union-Castle Line was preparing for the Centenary Voyage, my Danish friend was starting to wonder just what he was to sail on. He soon found out when we bought tickets for the little Hythe ferry called JENNY BLUE. She is of small and unknown tonnage but is 13 metres long and is standing in on the route at present due to 'safety issues' with one of the other Hythe ferries. It was a warm and sunny day and a pleasant way to spend 20 minutes on the sparkling water as we sailed over to the little village of Hythe, on the west side of Southampton Water.

At Hythe the ferry berths at the end of the 700 yards long Pier, which carries a railway along the track to the centre of town. The original railway was built in 1909 but the current electrified rails were laid in 1922 with a 2 feet wide narrow gauge. There is a wide board walk beside the line which is a pleasant alternative to the ancient but equally pleasant wooden railway carriages. I always enjoy this little trip to Hythe and would recommend it to anyone wishing to photograph any cruise ships in Southampton port or sailing in and out.
(more information can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe_Pier,_Railway_and_Ferry)

There was time for coffee and a walk around in the sunshine, before walking back to the end of the Pier and catching the JENNY BLUE back to Town Quay in Southampton. That was a delightful way to spend a morning before heading back to the hotel to collect luggage and then get a taxi to Mayflower Cruise terminal to join the good ship ORIANA for her 7 day Iberian Cruise.

Ships seen in the morning: Red Funnel ships going to and from the Isle of Wight, Jenny Blue going to and from Hythe Pier

We took a taxi through Dock Gate 6 and into the docks to the terminal for ORIANA. Check in was fairly easy and I was soon on board my second vessel of the day: the good ship ORIANA. I am booked into cabin F117, an inside twin for single use.

Part of my cabin


Lunch was the next priority as we all started to learn our way around this lovely ship. It was interesting to note that my cruise card had a tiny silhouette of ORIANA on the top right corner in gold, with the word FAREWELL underneath it. The card could be put in a little deck plan case with 'Welcome to Oriana' on the front.

The afternoon was spent catching up with friends, unpacking, and then preparing to meet more of the Ocean Liner Society group for drinks and dinner this evening. We sailed at 5 p.m. from Southampton and I enjoyed seeing the lovely SHIELDHALL as I stood beside a teak deck rail.

Ship's name above me

Shieldhall in Southampton

Sunshine on the funnel above me


Tomorrow we have a day at sea, heading south towards La Rochelle in France. My notes for the rest of today simply say 'drinks, dinner, and Show', so I must have enjoyed myself. I note that I mentally awarded the Show's Magician nine marks out of 10 for his skilled performance, so a good ending to a good day.


Ships seen: Oriana, Shieldhall, local ferries to Hythe or the Isle of Wight


To be continued...

ORIANA, a Farewell Cruise, 28th June 2019

ORIANA, 28th June 2019

I am a member of the international Ocean Liner Society and was one of the people who booked to join other members on the planned annual cruise on board P&O's ORIANA for a farewell cruise, lasting a week. She is due to leave the fleet in a few weeks time and many of us were interested in sailing on her for the last time. I planned to travel to Southampton on the day before sailing, and checked on marinetraffic.com that morning, to see that the ship was approaching the Channel Island of Guernsey. That seemed fine and I looked forward to seeing her on Friday.

Thursday 27th June 2019
I travelled to Southampton and soon checked into my hotel and left my little suitcase. It felt odd not to have a rucksack on my back, with minimum weight, but I could indulge myself and take several different outfits for my week on board ORIANA - what a novelty.

I had been invited to meet a couple for dinner at a local hostelry and they sent me a message to say that the sea around Guernsey was too rough to launch the ORIANA tenders so the call there had been abandoned. The subsequent message was to tell me that the ship then had a medical emergency and would be returning to Southampton that very evening and was due in just after 9.00 p.m.

P&O's ship Oriana sailing towards the Mayflower Terminal



We sat at a dinner table on the first floor of the Dancing Man Brewery looking out of a big window when we suddenly noticed ORIANA sailing past and heading slowly for her berth at Mayflower Terminal. It was nearly 9 p.m. but the light was enough for a photograph and then to spot another friend walking along the pavement below. I had already been surprised to find out that this hostelry was originally what I knew as the old Maritime Museum, with its wonderful ship models and displays. I think back then the main thing I coveted was a very large model of the CAPETOWN CASTLE, which was so detailed I think I could have pointed out my cabin when I worked on her as a Union-Castle Line Purserette - oh my, memories, memories. Back to here and now, as we managed to contact our Danish friend down on the pavement and persuade him to come and join us for a meal.

That was a pleasant evening which ended with a short tourist trail around several of the city wall remains and a visit to the 14th century Red Lion, in Below Bar; I remember it as a favourite establishment in the 1960s where sea-going Union-Castle staff would sometimes meet on the night before sailing, on a Friday at 1.00 p.m.

Ships seen: Oriana, Red Funnel vessels heading to and from the Isle of Wight, various cargo vessels entering or leaving the port with tug assistance


Friday 28th June 2019
My Danish friend was staying at the same hotel as me, and over breakfast I suggested he might like to take a little ferry to Hythe from Town Quay, as he could add it to his Ship List for the year. He was immediately happy with that idea, so we checked out and left luggage at the hotel, and walked down to the water. We saw huge container ships further along Southampton Water, and I warned him that the Hythe ferry was much smaller. We saw the Red Funnel passenger ships heading to and from the Isle of Wight, and I said the Hythe ferry was smaller than these. We saw the fast catamarans heading to and from the Isle of Wight, and again I said the Hythe ferry was smaller than them.

By the time we had passed the Town Quay location of our Union-Castle Line offices way back in 1998 when the re-launched Union-Castle Line was preparing for the Centenary Voyage, my Danish friend was starting to wonder just what he was to sail on. He soon found out when we bought tickets for the little Hythe ferry called JENNY BLUE. She is of small and unknown tonnage but is 13 metres long and is standing in on the route at present due to 'safety issues' with one of the other Hythe ferries. It was a warm and sunny day and a pleasant way to spend 20 minutes on the sparkling water as we sailed over to the little village of Hythe, on the west side of Southampton Water.

At Hythe the ferry berths at the end of the 700 yards long Pier, which carries a railway along the track to the centre of town. The original railway was built in 1909 but the current electrified rails were laid in 1922 with a 2 feet wide narrow gauge. There is a wide board walk beside the line which is a pleasant alternative to the ancient but equally pleasant wooden railway carriages. I always enjoy this little trip to Hythe and would recommend it to anyone wishing to photograph any cruise ships in Southampton port or sailing in and out.
(more information can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe_Pier,_Railway_and_Ferry)

There was time for coffee and a walk around in the sunshine, before walking back to the end of the Pier and catching the JENNY BLUE back to Town Quay in Southampton. That was a delightful way to spend a morning before heading back to the hotel to collect luggage and then get a taxi to Mayflower Cruise terminal to join the good ship ORIANA for her 7 day Iberian Cruise.

Ships seen: Red Funnel ships going to and from the Isle of Wight, Jenny Blue going to and from Hythe Pier


To be continued...

HOVERCRAFT & OTHER VESSELS Part 1

Saturday 22nd October 2016
It was early on a bright and sunny autumn morning when I stood on the pavement near Southsea beach in Hampshire, England. My ferry friends arrived by car and we were soon parked and taking photographs of NORMANDIE of Brittany Ferries as she sailed out of Portsmouth, heading for France.

Normandie of Brittany Ferries

Another view of Normandie


We could then walk into the Hover Travel office nearby, to buy return tickets on a Hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde in the Isle of Wight. The journey takes only ten minutes, but it was fascinating to anticipate and also to enjoy.

We were soon allowed out of the Terminal building to walk across the short distance to board FREEDOM 90 for our Flight at 9 a.m. She had arrived and berthed between SOLENT FLYER and ISLAND FLYER, which made for an unusual sight as far as I was concerned. We felt our vessel lift, and we turned and headed out to cross Southampton Water to the Isle of Wight. I marvelled at the 1955 invention by the famous Sir Christopher Cockerell, which first crossed the English Channel in July 1959. The vessel is described as a vehicle supported on a cushion of air supplied by a powered fan mounted on the craft - brilliant - hence Hover Travel calling it a flight.

Freedom 90, at Southsea

On board Freedom 90


I first went on a SRN4 Hovercraft called PRINCESS ANNE back in the early 1980s, sailing from Dover across the English Channel. Some passengers had their cars loaded on the hovercraft, which were much bigger than today's craft, ready to drive south in France; we simply went as foot passengers for the experience.

Today though we soon arrived at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, disembarked from FREEDOM 90 into the terminal and then climbed the nearby stairs to the bridge over the railway lines. This gave us a good view of the hovercraft down below, and we could watch our vessel head back to Southsea. The tide seemed to be out and there was a lot of mud-flats to be seen as we watched her go. Then it was time for breakfast ashore.

Solent Flyer nearby

Island Flyer on the left, Freedom 90 in the centre and Solent Flyer on the right; a case of one and two halves...

Freedom 90 going back to Southsea

Away she goes

She's well away


Back at the bridge over the railway lines we were pleased to be able to see the brand new SOLENT FLYER down below us on the tarmac, and we were even more pleased to see her changing places with ISLAND FLYER. We really hoped she might be our vessel for our ride back to Southsea... and yes, she was to be!

Island Flyer at Ryde Pier, Isle of Wight

Solent Flyer from the railway bridge

Changing places

To the centre

Two Flyers

Boarding the new Solent Flyer


We were soon on SOLENT FLYER, embarking at the front/bow end this time (rather than near the stern) and admiring her new livery of our national flag. Once inside we could also admire the spacious look of the design with big windows and a streamlined look throughout. The builders plate by Griffon was dated January 2016, with a delivery date of March 2016, and after sea trials she soon came into service with a gross tonnage of 15.27. I particularly admired the mural effect of the wall behind the 24 passengers she can carry, as we sat down and prepared to 'fly' across the water back to Southsea. One of the crew came to talk to us and he was obviously very proud of the new hovercraft.

Inside Solent Flyer

Registration Plate

Builders Plate

On board and looking astern at the seats and mural


We noticed that as it was a Saturday there seemed to be a lot of other smaller craft around us, and it became necessary to take a somewhat convoluted route across the water. The Wightlink ferries were also crossing back and forth between Portsmouth Harbour and the Isle of Wight, so there was a lot to see in our short journey!

Back in Southsea we went down on the beach towards the sea and could watch SOLENT FLYER embark more passengers before she set off for Ryde again.

Solent Flyer viewed from the beach as she began to turn, ready for her next 'flight'

The sea nearby

Solent Flyer going back to Ryde


What wonderful vessels they are.


To be continued...

NORWEGIAN ESCAPE 25th October 2015, the final part

Tuesday 27th October 2015
Arriving by sea in Southampton was quite a novelty this morning. I can't remember when I last did that, apart from the ferry from the Isle of Wight or on the dreaded URIAH HEAP ferry from Hythe. We had berthed bow in to the new Ocean Terminal, although the ship's lifeboats hanging out made it impossible for the vessel to go fully in.

One friend disembarked early to return to work, another friend left and would be back later, so I had time to myself until another good friend arrived for the one night cruise out of Southampton.

A studio cabin

Toilet cubicle on the left and shower on the right. Wash basin, wardrobe, television and storage are on the right of the bed.

Studio Lounge


I went to Guest Services for my new cabin card, wheeled my small suitcase to my new cabin, and after breakfast walked easily off the ship and out of the port area.

Very low tide in Southampton Water

Temporary blue sky


I had seen that the there was a really low tide in Southampton Water today, which was interesting. I took a local bus into the city and enjoyed a little while just wandering around the big shopping complex before going for coffee. My family back home were all well and glad to hear from me, so I returned to the ship for another little cruise - it's so odd to say that.

We were berthed in the current Ocean Terminal, and I remembered berthing in the old Ocean Terminal on the CAPETOWN CASTLE back in the late 1960s when I was a Purserette with Union-Castle Line. This city holds so many memories for me, and all of them memorable, whether of people or ships.

Back on board I decided to have a late lunch today in the O'Sheehan's Bar and Grill. A cheerful steward took my order and asked where I came from. I explained I lived in the South of England and he told me that he lived in the UK but was off to the States with the ship for the foreseeable future. He was so happy because his brother had come on board today as a guest so they might get a little time together later when he was off-duty. For now he was enjoying his job and meeting new people.

After lunch and good wishes to the efficient and happy steward I went to Guest Services to see if another of my dear friends had yet arrived on board. The lists were checked but apparently he is not yet here. I went back to my lovely new Studio cabin and telephoned to leave a message suggesting we meet in the Atrium at 3.30.

My 'Hamburg ferry' friend arrived back on board, now also in his Studio cabin, and we both headed to the Atrium to meet our one-night party-person. He told us he had been on board since late morning, which made a nonsense of me asking Guest Services to check if he was already on board. I remember being on board NORWEGIAN GETAWAY in January 2014 and there was a distinct lack of liaison between shore-side and ship-board members of staff. Ah well, he is here now and we can enjoy some tea together in the Atrium. We were able to show him the Studio Lounge before his whistle-stop tour of the ship with our Hamburg friends.

At 4 p.m. we all had to attend a mandatory lifeboat drill, even though we have been on board since Sunday and attended one then.

The ship is to sail from Southampton at 5 p.m. and by this time it was dark and raining in torrents. We had all arranged to meet on the Sun Deck to watch our departure and indeed headed up there, searching for whatever shelter we could find. I stood in my wet weather gear in the partial shelter of an outdoor shower cubicle but time passed without any activity and we all decided to meet for a drink in the Meridian Bar instead. I left the deck and through the darkness and heavy rain I could see another big cruise ship leaving her berth so I supposed that it would eventually be our turn, but suddenly it didn't matter.

Our Hamburg friends joined us and then we headed for the Manhattan Room for another Freestyle Dining experience. We were really looking forward to this as the tables were all set around a dance floor and small dais with a quartet of musicians on it. We had to queue of course but finally were allocated a table and enjoyed the ambience and music in this lovely room. The menus offered us all a good choice, and we enjoyed our meal and conversation together. Some goodbyes were said in case we didn't meet in the morning.

Wednesday 28th October 2015
I had a very comfortable night's sleep, this time in my Studio cabin, although in the early hours I was disturbed by a short broadcast telling me that the event code bravo ? was now over; this was repeated. I got the impression that someone had not shut off the correct switches to exclude passenger cabins from hearing the broadcasts. I went back to sleep immediately.

My alarm went off and the day started in Southampton. Once again the ship had berthed with her bow in, but not fully into the Ocean Terminal because of the overhanging life boats. We had arranged to meet for breakfast in the Garden Cafe up on Deck 16 aft, but that proved impossible because of the number of people there, mostly in groups. I found a space, and luckily my Hamburg friends came to claim me. We had more to eat at another table and then said our goodbyes.

Once I was allowed off the ship I headed for a taxi outside the Terminal and shared it with someone else going to the local railway station. One of my American friends had been staying overnight in Southampton before sailing on the ship and, although time pressures prevented us meeting, we exchanged messages and greetings.

Norwegian Escape

Hull art

Builders plate


I looked back at the huge NORWEGIAN ESCAPE and felt so lucky that I had been able to sail on her for three nights. I had particularly enjoyed my time in Hamburg before sailing, and it was a contrast to be on such a big vessel after that. The ship has some teething problems but these will presumably be sorted out during the coming week or months. Tomorrow she sails from Southampton for Miami and her life cruising in warmer climes but she is an interesting vessel, with much to recommend her.

Life Ring, Norwegian Escape

BALMORAL Round the Isle of Wight - 27th June 2009

M/V BALMORAL - ROUND THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Saturday 27th June 2009

The early morning summer mist was slowly clearing as I walked in the direction of a Southampton quayside, and in front of me was a little motor vessel dressed overall with welcoming flags. Hooray, I was going to sea again - this time on the little ship BALMORAL.

Saturday 27th June 2009 was the exact date of the Diamond Jubilee of the MV BALMORAL as she had been launched in Southampton on 27th June 1949. She was built by John I. Thornycroft & Company at their Woolston, Southampton, yard, and designed for Red Funnel. It was the wife of the then Chairman of Red Funnel, Mrs C. B. Pinnock, who was invited to launch the ship and she smashed a bottle of champagne tied with red, white, blue and green ribbons against her bow. A recording had been made of this ceremony and, to my delight, this was later relayed over BALMORAL’s tannoy system to those of us listening on deck. We were told that after the launch, over two hundred VIP guests were invited to a special lunch at the Polygon Hotel in Southampton, now demolished. I remember going there many years ago to several functions, and first hearing the (alleged) joke about ‘What do you call a sick parrot?’ and the answer of course is ‘a polygon’.

We were also told that BALMORAL was designed for Red Funnel with the dual purpose of being a ferry from Southampton to Cowes, and as an excursion ship, and after her launch she entered service at Southampton in December 1949. She became known for her annual summer cruise round the Isle of Wight, and this is what we were to enjoy for ourselves today. Soon the mist cleared, and the sun hurled heat down from a cloudless blue sky.

We sailed just after 10 a.m. with probably 100 people on board, and enjoyed a midships position on deck, with good views forward and aft.

Our group decided not to use the ageing white chairs, but chose new dark green ones instead, placed in a circular position so we could enjoy the views. And what views! With a toot of the horn we left the quayside and headed off down Southampton Water. I’ve done that a few times – firstly on the stylish TRANSVAAL CASTLE and other Union-Castle ships, and then latterly on the wonderful QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, before even more recently waving QE2 goodbye from the SHIELDHALL as she sailed off to Dubai in November 2008.

Photographs had been taken of GRAND PRINCESS and OCEANA in port in Southampton, and soon we could see ferries and other vessels in the busy waterways around us.




These included: RED OSPREY in her Ikea colours, TOKYO CAR, CALSHOT, VOLANS LEADER, ST. CATHERINE, TAGUS,


RED EAGLE, RED JET 3, ST. CLARE,
CLIPPER SAGA
a Hovercraft too fast to see the name,

and FASTCAT SHANKLIN.




This time though our route took us firstly towards Portsmouth, round the sandbank, past the Castle and the huge Portsmouth Millennium Tower, also known as the Spinnaker Tower. We saw a Gosport Ferry, HMS VICTORY, MOUNTS BAY, FASTCAT RYDE, a Sikorsky helicopter overhead, the large Brittany Ferries vessel MONT ST. MICHEL, and a brown-sailed Thames sailing barge ALICE as we entered the harbour.




At the Portsmouth berth we picked up many more excited passengers and then set off for Cowes in the north of the Isle of Wight. The NORMANDIE EXPRESS left the harbour at great speed, and we realised our re-enactment cruise was now truly underway and next landfall was due about three hours after leaving Southampton.
At Cowes we were rather startled at the number of people waiting to board our little motor vessel and felt so glad we had secured our own ‘base’ on deck.

Whilst we looked around I could see for the first time the premises of the famous maritime photographers Beken & Company. This reminded me of some of my maritime friends, several of whom are left-handed, and I've noticed they seem to be particularly artistic, so I was amused by two signs on board BALMORAL, directing passengers to particular places, and both using a left hand!

The new passengers boarded and so did a special piece of cargo: a huge celebration cake made by a local lady. We watched this carried carefully on board, and marvelled at the size and four stone (56 lbs.) weight. The proud baker sat beside the vast iced cake, which had a red satin ribbon around it, and shyly posed for photographs. She had been asked to make the size sufficient for five hundred and forty passengers and suddenly we could understand why!


















At the quayside pontoon we were surrounded by other welcoming craft, including the tiny steam paddler MONARCH, busily making her way around and blowing her loud whistle frequently. BALMORAL answered of course, with her own horn.




With the cake safely stowed on a big table down in the Saloon, coloured paper streamers were handed round to all of us on board, and we set off on our sixty mile cruise, clock-wise round the Isle of Wight. This had been the route of the original cruise.

Below decks, accessed by the gleaming wooden staircases,


the VIPs (Very Important People) were invited to watch the cutting of the cake and enjoy a piece of it, and then it was cut up into the rest of the 540 pieces.
The streamers were hurled around (so satisfying to have paper ones, which would recycle, rather than the ubiquitous plastic ones), deck rails were decorated, often inadvertently, the dogs were garlanded, quite happily in several cases, and the cake portions were finally distributed to the rest of us.

Cups and glasses were raised as the tannoy system replayed the original launch ceremony, and we settled down to enjoy the happiness of being at sea, on a glorious English hot summer’s day.

Osborne House, Norris Castle, Ryde, Tennyson Down, Sandown, St. Catherine’s Point and Lighthouse all came into sight as we motored along.


Suddenly there were few sights as we entered a sea fog, and it became eerily quiet. On our port side we could just make out the top of a huge car carrier, whose shape rose out of the top of the fog;


other ‘ghost ships’ – the laid-up car carriers – could also be seen through the fog banks. Above us was a barely visible blue sky, but all around was a chilly fog, so out came the waterproofs for a short time. Just as suddenly as we entered the fog, it billowed away again, and we were back in warm sunshine. We were now heading towards the famous Needles, and I was so looking forward to seeing them again from the sea. When I worked as a Purserette for Union-Castle Line, the beautiful lavender-hulled Mailships sailed down Southampton Water and then took the westerly Solent route south with the Isle of Wight on the port side, sailing past The Needles. I hadn’t seen this sight since working on EDINBURGH CASTLE, so it was a rather nostalgic moment. It’s one thing to look at my Admiralty chart at home, but quite another to see the reality in front of me.



We rounded the point and the coloured sand cliffs and chairlift of Alum Bay came into view,

as did distant ships against the mainland skyline on our port side,

and the local craft on our starboard Island side.


During our trip I noticed several buoys had a small solar panel on them.

We headed into Cowes Harbour again and watched hundreds of passengers go ashore, including the man who was obviously a supporter of the WAVERLEY and the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society!

The decks cleared and we could enjoy easy views around as we left Cowes.


As we left the port, far ahead we could see the two cruise ships heading down Southampton Water towards us, and beginning their turn around the east of the Isle of Wight. First was Grand Princess heading south, and then Oceana.




My list of ships seen today also included RED JET 4, RED FALCON, CAEDMAN, WIGHT SCENE, CENRED and CENWOLD laid up in Southampton Water,

Wallenius Wilhelmsen's TAGUS (laid up), ST. CECILIA, ST. HELEN, ST. FAITH, FREEDOM 90, JENNY R, SPIRIT OF PORTSMOUTH, SPIRIT OF GOSPORT, Thames Barge ALICE, OUR LADY PAMELA, and SPARKLING LINE from Weymouth


The sun was lower in the sky but the light on the water was glorious. So our journey continued back to Portsmouth, and on leaving the port one man and his dog waved to us.


and Thames Barge Alice headed into the port.








A stern view of BALMORAL and her Red Ensign.

As I’ve said many times, we are a maritime nation, and should glory in our Merchant Navy and be grateful for all they do for us: the latest leaflet from The Mission to Seafarers reminds us that over 90% of the goods we use in this country come here by sea and mariners always need our support.

So we finally sailed up Southampton Water to the quayside in Southampton docks at 9 p.m. It had been a wonderful day, celebrating the first sixty years of BALMORAL, and long may she continue sailing.

February 2010