Welcome to another issue of William the Fourth’s newsletter. (#9)
|
To start the year, we had an 80th birthday charter on 2nd January.
|
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately, the ship experienced mechanical problems on this trip and the 2 cruises on the following day were cancelled.
|
|
The water pump on the generator suffered a broken shaft and the main hydraulic pump would not start.
|
|
Booked passengers were offered another time to cruise or money back.
|
|
The water pump was repaired in time for 2 cruises on 17th January enabling the generator to be started. With the main hydraulic pump and bow thruster out of service, the auxiliary hydraulic pump was used successfully for steering under the command of Peter Devereux.
|
|
|
|
Returning to the pontoon, we were followed by a tug which for the first time in our memory performed donuts for our passengers.
|
|
|
|
|
As part of the maintenance program, on 20th January we moved the anchor from the port side bow to the starboard. This was done by lowering the anchor into the ship’s dinghy to transfer it to the starboard side.
|
|
|
|
February, March and April saw 5 Morning and Afternoon Tea cruises and 3 charters.
|
|
|
|
|
Also in April the crew enjoyed dinner at Tee & Maria’s, an Italian Restaurant opposite William’s berth.
|
|
|
|
May was a busy month, a total of 11 cruises including a 3 day trip to Raymond Terrace, a V.I.P. cruise and 2 charters as well as a breakfast at the berth in Honeysuckle.
|
|
We received a grant to pay for half the cost of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and most of the crew received training on 12th May.
|
|
|
|
On 8th May we conducted a V.I.P. cruise to honour our Patron, Peter Morris OAM.
|
|
|
|
|
Each year Raymond Terrace presents a “King Street Heritage Festival” and William The Fourth was invited to be the main attraction. To get to the Terrace, the Hexam bridge was opened but we had to lower both masts and the funnel to go under both bridges and power lines further up the river.
|
|
|
|
We arrived at the jetty on the Friday 14th afternoon and settled in for the night after dinner at the pub.
|
|
|
|
The first cruise on Saturday took passengers downstream and returned at 10am to a civic welcome where our Master, Malcolm Goodfellow asked the Deputy Mayor for permission to come ashore.
|
|
|
|
|
We had planned to have 2 more cruises on the Saturday but due to a high demand we put on a fourth cruise. A long but rewarding day.
|
|
|
|
The next day, Sunday we had a charter by Pacific Palms Probus so after breakfast when the passengers boarded, we started down the river.
|
|
|
|
On our way home now we had to lower the masts and funnel again (we had plenty of practice by this time) to get under the Hexham bridges. The foremast was left down so work could be carried out on the rigging the following week.
|
|
|
|
|
On 21st May, retirees and workers from Tomago Aluminium enjoyed a breakfast on board.
|
|
|
Each newsletter we will bring you the latest information on our upcoming cruises (After the Covid Lockdown of course), news and scuttlebutt from the deck of William The Fourth.
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
