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Boat that didn’t make it
Monday, 17 August 2009
As the wind-powered Tall Ships sailed out of Belfast yesterday to conquer more mountainous oceans across the globe, it transpired that a diesel-powered passenger vessel couldn’t quite match those feats during the past three days that the schooners and clippers were docked in the city.
The ‘Balmoral’ failed to keep to her schedule of ferrying people to see the wonderful sight in Belfast’s Abercorn Basin.
On Friday, the coaster was due to sail from Ballycastle down the Antrim Coast so that 250 people could marvel at the Tall Ships — but weather meant the travellers were taken by buses to Bangor and had to be content with a chug up Belfast Lough.
On Saturday, the planned mini-cruise was Portaferry-Donaghadee-Bangor-Belfast, but 20-30 passengers were left standing at Donaghadee harbour as it was felt it was too stormy to dock.
And on Sunday, with the Balmoral due to start off at Peel, on the Isle of Man, and call at Donaghadee to follow the fleet out of Belfast, the voyage was called off due to the weather.
The Belfast Telegraph called the Waverley group in Scotland which owns the Balmoral.
Nobody was available for comment, but a recorded message confirmed the Sunday cancellations.
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Myself and four family members were among those left standing on the harbour at Donaghadee on Sunday awaiting the arrival of MV Balmoral. A PSNI officer informed us that the boat trip was cancelled due to the weather as several inflatables left the harbour unaffected by the breezy conditions. We were angry and disappointed but there were several people who had travelled from Dublin on a wasted, expensive journey as the cost for the boat trip alone was £45 each. Never again, Waverley excursions!!
Posted by Brian McClean | 17.08.09, 14:52 GMT
What about Bangor? On Saturday we turned up at the Marina and were told (by the Marina staff) that the event had been cancelled and to go to Tourist Information. They said that they had been told that the Balmoral wasn't sailing because of adverse weather conditions and that it might have toppled over! What a lot of rot. A very poor show and a lot of dissappointed people. My husband and I went out in our own small boat on Sunday and even though conditions were rough we still stayed on board. Personally I think that they just couldn't be bothered to stop at Bangor!
Posted by HEATHER MORRISON | 17.08.09, 11:00 GMT