Tender going out to the Mauretania

Tender going out to the Mauretania which is anchored by the end of the outer breakwater

The occasion is the first call at Fishguard by the Cunard liner “Mauretania”, 30 August, 1909, en route to Liverpool.                                                                                                                              Three tenders were employed, one each for passengers, luggage, and mails (to minimise the length of the call). “Sir Francis Drake” (1908; 478 grt) can be seen off the bow of the liner, while to the left is the “Great Western” or “Great Southern” (sister ships, both 1902; 1,225 grt).                                                                                                                                                                 “Sir Francis Drake” took the passengers; “Great Southern/ Western” the mails, while “Smeaton” (1883; 369 grt) , not in the picture, handled the luggage.

(the year it was built and gross tonnage is given in brackets)