The Solent Estuary
Photograph above
BALMORAL is caught on the swashway channel about to enter Portsmouth Harbour, her intention was to sail round the Isle of Wight. However, the conditions on The Solent were challenging to say the least and she never left The Solent, instead being instructed to cruise the estuary waters instead. Active operations are long gone for the vessel, being laid up for many years at Bristol. Serious questions need to be answered on whether she will ever sail again?
Photograph Source: Digital Expression UK
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
BALMORAL
In December 2012 Waverley Excursions and Waverley Steam Navigation announced that Balmoral would not be sailing in 2013. The ship's operation has been hampered increasingly in recent years by extreme weather conditions. In 2015, ownership of MV Balmoral was transferred to a new registered charity MV Balmoral Fund Limited, and she is now operated by their subsidiary, White Funnel Ltd. Following a refit costing over £300,000 and with help from a Coastal Communities Fund Grant, Balmoral started public sailing again on 19 June 2015. It was announced in December 2017 that she would not be sailing in 2018 as she requires major hull plating work. She has never sailed since!
Source: Digital Expression UK
The Solent Estuary
Photograph above
BALMORAL is caught on the swashway channel about to enter Portsmouth Harbour, her intention was to sail round the Isle of Wight. However, the conditions on The Solent were challenging to say the least and she never left The Solent, instead being instructed to cruise the estuary waters instead. Active operations are long gone for the vessel, being laid up for many years at Bristol. Serious questions need to be answered on whether she will ever sail again?
Photograph Source: Digital Expression UK
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
BALMORAL
In December 2012 Waverley Excursions and Waverley Steam Navigation announced that Balmoral would not be sailing in 2013. The ship's operation has been hampered increasingly in recent years by extreme weather conditions. In 2015, ownership of MV Balmoral was transferred to a new registered charity MV Balmoral Fund Limited, and she is now operated by their subsidiary, White Funnel Ltd. Following a refit costing over £300,000 and with help from a Coastal Communities Fund Grant, Balmoral started public sailing again on 19 June 2015. It was announced in December 2017 that she would not be sailing in 2018 as she requires major hull plating work. She has never sailed since!
Source: Digital Expression UK