Elvira Camino: A Waterford Vessel with a Storied Past

The story of the Waterford sailing ship Elvira Camino – yours to download, a fully referenced 3000-word original piece by Andrew Doherty of Tides & Tales. A free to access 500 word summary is available on our blog page.

The Elvira Camino, is a vessel that once graced the waters of the River Suir and the hearts of Waterford’s working quay. Discovered through a humble postcard on a wet Easter weekend, her story came back to life: from her 1872 launch in Glasgow to her decades of steady trade, her Veale family Waterford connection, to her final years in Cobh under the fearless Captain Ashley Kinch.

Captain Kinch was a legend—so devoted to his ship he turned down a steam command in his old age, once letting the Elvira Camino drift for days rather than pay a tug £300. His loyalty wasn’t just to the vessel, but to the art of seamanship itself.

🖼️ Now, thanks to Tides & Tales Maritime Community Project, you can bring that story home. Available to download and keep for your own personal use, this 3000 word, fully referenced newly researched piece is on our online shop.

As a non-profit organisation, Tides & Tales relies entirely on fundraising and the generosity of readers like you to keep preserving and sharing the forgotten histories of Ireland’s maritime heritage. Every book, print, or piece of research sold in our store helps us keep these stories afloat—for schools, communities, and future generations to explore.

💙 Your purchase helps us…
– Maintain our site and keep these stories alive
– Support educational outreach
– Maintain our growing digital archive
– Host local history talks and walking tours

A free to access 500 word summary of the vessel is available on our blog page