The paddle steamer Waverley paid her first visit of the year to Kilcreggan on Tuesday, June 29.
The historic vessel called at the village on one of her first cruises of 2021 en route from Largs to Blairmore and a cruise on Loch Long and Loch Goil.
And Kilcreggan resident Rev Mitchell Bunting, minister at the United Reformed Church congregations in Helensburgh and Dumbarton, was on hand with his camera as the ship returned to the village.
The famous ship, which was originally based at the now-derelict Craigendoran pier and which first sailed in service in 1947, taking residents and day-trippers to Arrochar and Lochgoilhead, is now scheduled to be in daily service on the Firth of Clyde until at least August 22 offering a wide variety of sailings from her home base in Glasgow.
Ongoing Covid limits mean the capacity aboard the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer is being restricted to 35 per cent of normal levels to ensure physical distancing.
Coach transfers are available to and from Helensburgh to meet the ship’s Kilcreggan calls, but only for passengers who have bought their tickets in advance.
Waverley’s general manager, Paul Semple, said: “We are delighted to welcome passengers aboard Waverley once again. Throughout the winter a small team works hard to ensure that come summer the wheels can turn.
"As passengers board at the start of a new season the ship comes alive and the hard work to get her back in service is well rewarded.
“I hope the sound of paddles on the Clyde once again is a welcome sign that summer is here.
"We are exceptionally grateful to the thousands of people who supported our appeal to meet the maintenance costs.”
The Waverley sailed as part of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company's fleet until 1972, then for one more year with Caledonian MacBrayne before she was withdrawn from service.
But she was bought by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1973 and returned to service in preservation the following year.
Thee ship hasn't had her troubles to seek in recent years: she didn't sail at all in 2019 after it was discovered her boilers needed completely replaced, and her 2020 season was restricted to a few days at the end of August last year because of the pandemic.
However, even that brief season ended prematurely when she struck the pier at Brodick on Arran, injuring several passengers, one of whom later agreed an undisclosed sum in compensation with the ship's owners.
Paul added: “Given the variety of Waverley cruises on offer over the coming weeks we look forward to welcoming back our supporters as well as those members of the public who wish to step aboard a paddle steamer for the first time.”
One of the highlights of the 2021 sailing programme will be a rare sailing from Glasgow to Ardrishaig, Waverley’s first visit to the Argyll village for twenty years.
Given restricted capacity, advance booking is recommended for all sailings at waverleyexcursions.co.uk.
Tickets can still be bought on board, but only subject to availability.
The ship will call at Kilcreggan on various Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from now until August 22, when further sailings will be announced.
For full details of her timetable, click here.
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