£75k boost for new Waverley appeal

The world’s last seagoing paddle steamer has captured hearts and wallets again, with an overwhelming response to the ship’s latest appeal.
Supporters have raised more than £75,000 in the first fortnight of the Masts and Windows Appeal, which is seeking to raise £135,000.
The call for support is to replace Waverley’s two timber masts and most of the dining saloon windows ahead of the 2026 sailing season.
General Manager Paul Semple told this newspaper he is delighted with the early response and is aiming to raise the full call for cash by March.
Boatbuilders have been on board Waverley this week, scoping the work required on both masts and the 13 dining saloon windows.
We’ll award the work to a Scottish boatbuilder by Christmas, Mr Semple said.
These traditional features are central to Waverley’s distinctive profile. Renewing them in authentic materials is essential to preserving the ship’s historic character and appearance.
A fracture on the main mast occurred on the final sailing of 2025, which led to the upper section being removed. Waverley then completed the season, according to the crew, looking a little sorry for herself.
The foremast has since been fully inspected and has several cracks extending up its 17-metre length. Although not individually deep, they collectively show the mast is ageing. It has, though, given great service to the ship, having been fitted back in 2003 during the second phase of the Heritage Rebuild.
Paul Semple explained: Essentially, many parts of Waverley could be replaced with more modern materials and fittings which may last longer, but collectively that would change the look and feel of the ship.
Preserving Waverley is about maintaining her, as far as is possible, as she was intended to be. We are preserving her truly unique character.
As the world continuously changes around Waverley, she becomes even more special, as she represents a moment in time when she was first designed and built.
Throughout Waverley’s preservation career, many refurbishments have been undertaken, although it has not always been possible to fully preserve her original 1947 character.
Waverley’s owning charity remains fully committed to maintaining her traditional style wherever possible, even though it is rarely the most cost-efficient route.
The ship’s 2025–26 winter refit is now well under way, with essential maintenance and several major investment projects in progress. This includes replacing the fire sprinkler system and renewing the port paddlebox spring beam. These two works alone will cost more than £500,000 and are being jointly funded by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and Waverley’s owning charity.
This winter’s refit was already shaping up to be expensive, but with the additional costs of both masts and the dining saloon windows, the total cost will now be over £1.5 million.
To allow the work on Waverley’s masts and windows to be completed by March 2026, Waverley’s supporters are being asked to help raise £135,000.
Then Waverley will return to sailing service, marking the 80th anniversary of her launch.