World of Ships – May 2018

PADDLE STEAMERS

Paddle Steamers I World of Ships I 89

DRESDEN DISPLAYS

The nine superb paddle steamers from the

Dresden fleet traditionally go on parade in May

or June each year and in both of these views

Leipzig (1929) is leading the way, other vessels

joining enthusiastic whistle blasts (right) while

six steamers are seen above with the white

funnelled Dresden fourth in line.

Lake Geneva boasts a paddle driven fleet of

seven vessels – steamers Montreux, La Suisse,

Savoie, Simplon and Rhone, plus diesel-electric

powered trio Vevey, Italie and Helvetie – and in

recent years a steamer parade has become a

traditional curtain-raiser for the lengthy summer

sailing programme.

Then the stylish lines of the clipper-bowed

veterans are enhanced by flags and floral

decoration, with the flags of the three Cantons

surrounding Lake Geneva proudly flown from

the top of the foremasts and in the view below

each vessel’s passengers released balloons of

a different colours during a spectacular parade

finale. On the left, Montreux, built in 1904 and

restored to steam power with a new engine in

2001, leads Savoie (1914) towards Rolle, where big

crowds were all along the shoreline.

LAKE GENEVA’S STYLISH FIVE

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