'Horseman, pass by', or better, get off that horse!

Just a couple of weeks ago, with the end of the hull-work around the engine compartment in sight as well as my own return to Ireland for the Christmas season, Alec and Stephan turned their attention to the forward half of the hull. The actual bows were virtually rebuilt in 2002, and do not present a problem, so the detectives' main area of investigation was in the cabin area. The pair of terriers mercilessly tore out our nice double bunk and the water tank underneath it. Horrors! There was a whole row of fractured ribs there, along with quite a few cracked ones in other parts. Alec had me attach the mainstays on the foremast to large blocks of concrete on the ground and slacken the other stays, so that he can squeeze those planks together again before putting in new laminated ribs.

Fractured ribs by the water tank.

  These cracks in the moulded oak frames must have developed through multiple shocks over time, but the most severe damage is in the area where 'Anna M' was rammed in Foxy's Wooden Boat Regatta in 2003, at Jost Van Dyke Island in the BVI. I was roaring off to a good start, slightly ahead of other boats to port and starboard, when a big American yacht tacked to go behind us but somehow got her boom caught up in a running backstay, could not therefore pay off, and headed to t-bone us. There was nothing I could do and I thought she would surely sink us, but a wave just lifted her big bowsprit enough to scrape above our deck. It wrecked the rail and life-lines, but while it broke itself, it also broke the blow, and turned the two boats side by side.

  The American was suitably apologetic, and took us into St Thomas to get us fixed up. I should have inspected the timbers then, but not being insured either for racing or for the hurricane season in that part of the world, I was very anxious to get away, and didn't even think of tearing out the panelling and bunk to do so. It was late July and late for heading home, so I headed south to Chaguarramas in Trinidad and the Orinoco River in Venezuela, but that's another story.

Heading up the Orinoco.

  Even if the usual pressures had put me off being too inquisitive this time, the Two Terriers would not have let me get away with it. Having put their names to the job, they are determined the old boat is going to be sea-worthy when she hits the water again. I am very fortunate to have fallen into their hands. We are all agreed that one more Biscay gale would most likely have sent her to the bottom.

  I have come to the point of very much identifying with the gentleman who so nearly chased his desire over the cliff at Nazaré, but was saved by the

intervention of Our Lady. Anyway it was quite fortuitous that I decided to put the 'Anna M' on the concrete there, and secondly that I thereby fell into the hands of Alec and Stephan. The whole affair is falling into the age-old pattern whereby a crisis, if faced up to and properly responded to, can lead to new relationships and possibilities, and generally strengthen our faith. Even a foolish and self-inflicted crisis like Brexit could do it! Anyway this Advent Season points the way, as the dire winter paves the way for spring, just as Our Lady's crisis pregnancy and deliverance in the stable at Bethlehem did for the coming of Our Saviour.

Meanwhile, it's darn cold, wet and windy here in Sherkin, where I am preparing a 'fundit' campaign to see if we can pay for this job! Watch out, it's coming shortly. It will offer limited opportunities to go sailing on the 'Anna M' once she is in commission again, and very good value they will be!

'Anna M' off Ferragudo.