Scillonian III Makes Its Last Run to Penzance After 49 Years
Scillonian III, the ship known as the “vomit comet”, has sailed for the last time between the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. It served the route for just under 50 years, and its final crossing ended with a crowd on the harbour walls at Penzance.
A last crossing in calm seas
The last sailing, on Sunday, covered the 37 nautical miles from St Mary’s to Penzance. The steamship company had expected a few dozen passengers. Tickets sold out.
The weather was kind, with blue skies and a calm sea. As dusk fell, a flotilla of Cornish pilot gigs, kayaks and pleasure cruisers escorted the vessel in, and hundreds of people lined the harbour walls.
The Cape Cornwall Singers greeted the ship with Harry’s Song for Cornwall. Some passengers joined in as they came ashore. Pat Smethhurst, who has holidayed on Scilly for decades, called the crossing lovely and unusually smooth, though with lots of tears.
Simon Nicholls, who lives in Penzance, sported a Cornish tartan tie and hat. He said the ship had long been a daily presence in the town, seen and heard every day, and that her departure was “the end of an era”.
Nearly half a century of service
In its 49 years the ship has put to sea more than 10,000 times. Its passengers were islanders, holidaymakers and bird-watchers, and the sailing season ran from spring to autumn. The nickname comes from stormy weather, when it rocked enough to upset anyone prone to seasickness.
Terry Ward was aboard its first journey to Scilly in 1977. His great-grandfather was the founding chair of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, which has run the ship. They sailed overnight from north Devon, where it was built, on a glassy sea, and locals packed the quay to see it arrive.
Ward described a vessel woven into island life. “I don’t think there’s a better-loved ship anywhere,” he said. When it turned up each March it marked the start of the season, and when it left at the end of the season the islands felt a little empty.
Seats, sea legs and memories
Passengers tended to claim a favourite spot. Dolphin and basking shark watchers liked the outside decks. Others preferred the lower deck inside, where the drone of the ship helped them fall asleep.
Ray Jackman, a Scillonian businessman, was on both the first and the last voyage. He always sat next to the engine room, where the crew showed him how the vessel worked. He said it very rarely broke down.
Sholto Blackwell, who founded the ship’s Facebook appreciation page, also made the last trip. The page has almost 5,000 members. He has sailed on the ship since boyhood and reckons he has made 30 or 40 return trips. Seasickness, he said, was part of the fun.
Scillonian IV comes next
Scillonian III was the third passenger ship on the route in about a century. The first, Scillonian, served from 1926 to 1956. In the second world war it was armed and served as a military transport. Scillonian II lasted 25 years before the ship now retired took over, launched by the then Prince Charles.
Scillonian IV was built in south-east Asia and is sailing to the islands by way of the Cape of Good Hope. Its first crossing between the islands and the mainland is due in March. The company says it will carry more passengers, be faster and have roll and pitch reduction systems to counter the swells. Blackwell accepts the islands and crew need it, but he is not convinced the thrills will disappear entirely.
Source: the Guardian