Grana on the breakwater

[Ian McColgin]

Last night at 1900 Grana was fine but this morning she's awash on the Hyannisport breakwater.

The howler was substantial - Mya and Whitehawk both dragged a cable or so.

I'll be 'round the computer while organizing salvage and distracting myself with the forum, but then I may well be busy and hard to reach.

More later.

[George.]

:eek: :(

Good luck with the salvage, Ian - I hope there is no swell to complicate things.

[Stu Fyfe]

If you need assistance, you know where to look. Our thoughts are with you.

[Tom Lathrop]

Bummer Ian. :(

Hope things are brighter when you get her in.

[Donn]

That sucks. Good luck with her.

[Wayne Jeffers]

:( Sorry to hear it, Ian.

I hope all goes well with the salvage.

Keep us posted when you can.

Wayne

[Ian McColgin]

Actually, Cape people putting heads together, what I need is land. All normal boatyards are so far behind with this lousey spring that there's no way I can land in one of them.

So I am looking for a bit of open space, electric and water access nice but not absolutely needed, longish term (most of summer) preferred but something temporary might do.

Needs easy trailor access as she'd be coming in on one of Brownell's big rigs.

Gotta have a place to deliver her. Any bright ideas please post here or e-mail me.

No thoughts too crazy.

[Hughman]

Sorry to hear of your distress, Ian.

Good luck!

[J. Dillon]

Sorry to hear of your plight. :( Hope all goes well and not too much damage.

JD

[Mrleft8]

I'd offer my yard, but that'd be a bit of a haul, and Brownell might not like my driveway...
It's still howling out here, What were the wave hts?

[Noah]

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. Good luck, and sorry I can't offer any advice on where to go.

Feel like coming up to Vermont? The Shelburne shipyard is a pretty nice place.

[Gresham CA]

So sorry to hear that Ian. Like others, I have a place to put it but it would be a long haul. Good Luck!

[htom]

Very sorry to hear this, Ian.

[Scott Rosen]

I'm sorry to hear this, Ian.

Harry's Marine Repair, in Westbrook, Connecticut, has space on land, and he lets owners do their own work. You can probably stay on land the entire summer. He's got a pretty big travel lift, so could launch you when you're ready. Electric, water, hot showers. His crew does excellent mechanical/electrical work. If you need help with wood repairs, there are some excellent shipwrights in the area.

Since you're travelling by truck, maybe this isn't too far.

[Bruce Hooke]

Best of luck to you!

[landlocked sailor]

I'll add my thoughts too. Good luck and keep the faith. Rick

[Ed Harrow]

Oh... @*&%# There's land at Mum's, but it's so wet that such a load would sink out of sight. :(

[cs]

Sorry to hear that Ian. Hope you can work it out.

Chad

[Ross M]

:(

[Hwyl]

Add my driveway to the offers, even some accomodation too.

Wells Maine

[Ken Hutchins]

Sorry about your mishap, I,ve got space here in southern NH, or check Independant Boat Haulers Elliot ME, I think they have yard space and allow owners to do the work.

[Dave Fleming]

Aw Fudge!

Hoping it all comes together for you Ian.

[ 05-25-2005, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Dave Fleming ]

[Art Read]

Chin up, Ian... Remember "WHEN AND IF".

[rbgarr]

I'm so very sorry to hear about your troubles. The fetch of wind and waves across Lewis Bay must have been substantial to push Grana and the others around like that.

I heard from my cousin last night that there was a NE howler up there. All the furniture on our porch got blown down onto the shore or into the street in Maine, which is a first, so it must have been a very strong and prolonged wind.

:( :(

[stormpetrel]

12 noon update: Ian and I just went to look at a
possible site for the boat on land. It's next to a building that is in the process of getting bought by a local boatbuilder. Ian paced out the space and it fits! No definite word until next week, as the boatyard owner off of Italy sailing.
We also went to look at Granuaille. Such a sad
sight! Neither of us has a digital camera, but I'm not sure I would want to post pictures anyway.
She looks like she's rammed into the Hyport jetty,
and she's definitely LOW in the water. Ian remarked that he is grateful about all your kind
messages. He's also fairly upbeat (considering the situation), and vows the vessel (some vessel anyway) will sail again! As a postscript. . . I recently had to move, and I'm looking for a cheap space on the Cape to work on my Rhodes 18 sloop.
Any leads, please leave a message. Thanks. Phil

[T.A.R.]

Good Luck Ian, If I can help let me know.The local yards are quite backed up. If I hear of anything this way I'll let you know.
Ted

[Pete Dorr]

Ian

Bummer.

How about asking the folks at that new-ish boat museum in Hyannis if you can borrow some parking lot spaces for a few weeks till the yards empty out.

I'd offer my side yard but I'd then need to live on Grana.

Pete

[stormpetrel]

Pete--I really don't think anyone wants to live on
Grana for awhile! Now that her belowdecks are full
of seawater, and the weather report is storms into
the weekend, things are going to be very WET around here! But I'm sure Ian will appreciate the
sentiments.

[JimConlin]

Several of the yards in the Marion-Mattapoisett area have inland storage yards. Try Brownell's or Barden's in Marion.

[Figment]

Horrible news! Far too many boats are falling victim to this blow.

Jim beat me to it... If Brownell is doing to do the haul, they could be a good source for storage sites as well.

[Alan D. Hyde]

A temporary hull patch isn't rocket science for someone with Ian's background.

Now, don't dismiss this suggestion out of hand--- it may be better than you first think---

Take her out to Nantucket. Yeah, I know. BUT, it's a funny place, and much depends on who you know and who likes you or your boat... One of my ancestors, Robert Pike, was one of the proprietors who bought and gave the place to the Quakers in the 1600's. I spent some good times there in the sixties... Ian, you're not wholly unacquainted with skulduggery. Here's a chance for some, and a wonderful place to spend the summer working on Grana... :D

Alan

Tack into your misfortunes, and they'll drive you ahead. Jack Buswell

[ 05-25-2005, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[stormpetrel]

Couldn't get to her today for any useful purpose. Hope to get in close tomorrow at low tide.

The hull patch is one distinct possiblitity.

I've hooked up with a marine salvor I knew a little from tug boating days. Seems game even though his tone of voice changed markedly when he realized it was not to be an insurance job.

If we can't patch and pump, we'll get a big crane barge in.

Amazingly I may have found a little lot within a mile of here. One of those odd comings together.

We will see.

[Ian McColgin]

So, this is the second day in a row I did not look and managed to file under stormpetrel - that's me just above.

[Donn]

Today, you have a good excuse. I recognized your spelling, anyway. :D

I'm surprised we haven't heard about more damaged boats. Our local morning news showed some film of a badly damaged waterfront in Maine, with several boats sunk in their slips. :eek:

[John B]

Hell Ian. I'm so sorry to hear this. Good luck with it all.

[Ken Hutchins]

Ian, check your email.

[Ian McColgin]

Revalatory note essentially revealed in the Candleberry Inn pix anyway - stormpetrel is "Phil," the shortform of her last name. Often called "GoodPhil" to distinguish her from a man in our Kedger's Club known as "BadPhil."

Phil and I were advocate/organizers together during the finest working years of my life. She is still fighting the noble fight. I am sharing, taking advantage of really, the computer in her office.

[StevenBauer]

Holy crap, Ian. What a bummer. But weren't you planning an overhaul in a few years anyway? Let us know if you need help. And thanks for helping to keep us informed Sue.

Steven

[paladin]

Sorry Ian...I wish you the best of luck....

[Bayboat]

Ian: It's always sad when a boat gets too close to the land. I surely hope you can put her back together again. The northeast has certainly become overpopulated: people, automobiles, and now boats, and all the while space is shrinking. But it sounds as if you have some options. It'll work out. Clint.

[Meerkat]

VERY best wishes, Ian! I'll be thinking of you and Grana!

Please keep us informed!

[Stiletto]

Sorry to hear of it. Best wishes for the recovery.

[Concordia..41]

For any small amount of good it may do, good wishes from here...

- M

[formerlyknownasprince]

Good luck mate.

Ian

[Chris Coose]

Long weekend in the forecast.
I'll make some time if you could use some help.
I'm sorry to read this Ian.

[Thad]

Too bad, Ian!! Still blowing but not quite so strong, lee shores are dangerous especially if they are rock. Good to hear of the lot where you might be able to work. A fisherman friend of ours here managed to haul his boat off the Back Beach against the causeway in the last NE blow and said he was surprised to find the support in town from people on the water and people on the causeway waiting to cheer when they finally got her free. His 5/8 shackle to the mooring block, new last fall and unworn, broke it's pin at the threads.

[TomF]

Oh Ian, I'm sick to hear of this.

Wishing you the very best, from too far away to be of any danged use.

Tom.

[adampet]

Ian,
Let me know if I can be of help Sat or Sun.I can provide muscle if nothing else. I do have a section of paved parking lot that is zoned for light commercial.It may be too far for your purposes, but is available.
Adam

[Stu Fyfe]

Me Too. Just let us know when. I can set aside some time Sat., Sun. or Monday.

[Pete Dorr]

Ian

please post the schedule of when you need help. If I find some free time I can help out.

Pete

[outofthenorm]

The saddest thing is when tragedy strikes someone - or something - we love. If kind thoughts can help, you have mine. I wish it were more. - Norm

[John of Phoenix]

Very sad. Best of luck Ian.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Is she off yet?

Extent of damage?

Patched? How? Afloat? Bound--- whither?

Alan

[BrianW]

Sorry to hear the news. :( I hope all ends well.

[Alan D. Hyde]

http://www.mcallen.lib.tx.us/books/circumna/c_mar1.jpg

***

Alan

[ 05-27-2005, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[Wild Wassa]

Ian, I'm very sorry to read about your boat, this way. I hope things go efficiently from here in, if that's at all possible. All the best.

Warren.

[High C]

Hope the salvage goes well, and damage is minimal.

JT

[Mike Field]

.
Ian, I'm very sorry to hear this news. I hope you're able to get the poor girl back to normal again very soon.
.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Originally posted by Ian McColgin:
Actually, Cape people putting heads together, what I need is land. All normal boatyards are so far behind with this lousey spring that there's no way I can land in one of them.

So I am looking for a bit of open space, electric and water access nice but not absolutely needed, longish term (most of summer) preferred but something temporary might do.

Needs easy trailor access as she'd be coming in on one of Brownell's big rigs.

Gotta have a place to deliver her. Any bright ideas please post here or e-mail me.

No thoughts too crazy.Ian, just started to read this did not even get to page two but I wanted to let you know NOW 3.5 hrs away I have a 3,500 sq ft boat barn open space, 110V & 220V electric and very nice and you can trailer her in with as many shop tools you may need is yours if you need it for as long as you need it. My barn is your barn I'm available Sunday and Monday to travel up to you should you need me to come up. What ever you need Im available. My phone number is 845-265-3423.

Best of luck

This is a totally serious offer.

[ 05-26-2005, 09:21 PM: Message edited by: Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson ) ]

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

:( Hope there's not too much damage Ian.. Best of luck.

[Stu Fyfe]

Joe, Your generosity is outstanding.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/adampet/StuIanPhil.jpg
Myself, Ian and Phil last saturday afternoon during the beginning of the Nor-easter that's been blasting us and took Grana off her anchors.

[ 05-27-2005, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Stu Fyfe ]

[John of Phoenix]

I talked to a friend in NH today. He said his neighbor wants to move back to Texas where he only has to contend with hurricanes, tornadoes and republicans.

This must be a ROUGH one.

Wishing you all some sunshine and fair seas.

[ 05-26-2005, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: John Teetsel ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

The greater difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests."
Epicurus quotes (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)


Best of luck Ian.

[adampet]

Not that I really want to post this, and I hope Ian will forgive me....but here's a pic from the Cape Cod Times.....

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/update/images/stranded26.jpg

[Pete Dorr]

Here is that story from CCT

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/schoonercasualty27.htm

[Mrleft8]

Ouch!
I guess that "Life boat hull" Isn't totally "unsinkable"... :(

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

OH :( Dear :(
Ian I'm So Very Sorry for you.

[Concordia..41]

Damn!

Edited to add - have a kleenex handy if you read the newspaper piece...

[ 05-27-2005, 08:48 AM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

[Gresham CA]

(lump in throat)

[htom]

{{{ Ian }}} {{{ Granuaile }}}

[John of Phoenix]

:( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[km gresham]

:(

[J. Dillon]

Sad, :( sad, :( sad, :( Sure hope she can be fixed up. Good Luck Ian.

JD

[Ed Harrow]

:(

[Keith Wilson]

Oh my God, this is really sad. :( I wish I could help, and I really hope you can put her back together. :(

[Seth Wood]

Oh, God. Strength and courage to you, Ian.

There are a lot of us here with a variety of skills, strengths, schedules. We stand ready to do what we can.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

:( Bummer.

[StevenBauer]

Oh man! :( Phil said low in the water but I didn't know how low. Any news about getting her out?

Steven

[Art Read]

**** . What can we do?

[Gary E]

Ian,
The picture and article make it look worse than what I first pictured in my mind. This is so sad I wish you all the luck in recovery.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Courtesy of capecodonline---

Schooner casualty of storm

By MARC PARRY
STAFF WRITER

HYANNISPORT - As a boy, Ian McColgin fell in love with the Marco Polo schooner after he read about its maiden voyage in a yachting magazine.

As an adult, he came to own one of the 55-foot, three-masted sailboats after he lost his old schooner to Hurricane Bob.

Ian McColgin's three-masted sailboat, his home in recent years, sits underwater against the Hyannis breakwater. The ship broke from its anchors during Tuesday's northeaster. It's unclear whether McColgin, left, can salvage his boat.

But this week it happened again. The northeaster that blew in Tuesday, with wind gusts reaching 60 miles per hour, thrashed the ship - McColgin's home until recent years - against the Hyannisport breakwater.

By Wednesday morning, it had sunk.

''I think that's our only casualty, so to speak, of the storm,'' said Barn-stable Assistant Harbor Master Joe Gibbs.

That casualty was a 1964 mahogany-and-oak ship called Granuaile, and yesterday it turned Eugenia Fortes Beach into a kind of maritime wake.

Some hiked a half-mile out on the jetty to view the wreck upclose. Others, like Lucille Johnson and Marcia Cowan of Centerville, came to this beach near the Kennedy compound to gaze at it from afar.

The two 82-year-olds, one wearing a pink jacket and the other wrapped in a plastic rain scarf, stopped to chat with the man in yellow boots, tattered blue fleece and canvas fisherman's cap.

I'm the owner, he said.

''Ohhhhh,'' they both said.

''That's sad,'' Johnson said.

''Everything was shackled properly,'' McColgin said later. ''I don't know what happened.''

McColgin, 56, has a mooring in the harbor, but he hadn't set it up for the season yet.

Two anchors, one 65 pounds and the other 45, had held the ship in place about 100 yards north of the mooring. He used the same setup to secure her during Hurricane Eduardo in 1996. It didn't budge.

He checked on the boat Tuesday night around 7 p.m. Everything was fine.

But when McColgin came back Wednesday morning, the boat was leaning against the jetty, submerged but pretty much intact.

McColgin rowed out and salvaged some things that had washed up on the breakwater. His favorite life vest. A kayak. A pump.

Whether he can salvage the boat is unclear.

The interior will be ruined, for sure. But the water was still too rough yesterday for a diver to get a look at the structural damage.

That will probably happen today. Afterwards, a maritime salvage company will do one of two things.

They'll patch up the boat, pump it out and tow it. Or they'll lift it out with a crane.

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/images/schooner27.jpg
Ian McColgin's three-masted sailboat, his home in recent years, sits underwater against the Hyannis breakwater. The ship broke from its anchors during Tuesday's northeaster. It's unclear whether McColgin, left, can salvage his boat.
(Staff photo by STEVE HEASLIP)

McColgin will have to decide: Will enough of the structure be intact to repair it?

The boat came into his life 12 years ago. He found it in a way that he never expected: an ad in Soundings magazine. It said ''H-55'' and listed a phone number.

McColgin reached the owner in New York and asked if H-55 meant a Herreshoff 55-foot schooner. That's L. Francis Herreshoff, the legendary boat designer.

''Yeah,'' the owner said.

''Wouldn't be a Marco Polo, would it?''

''Yeah.''

''And you have it for sale?''

''Yeah.''

''It was almost like he didn't want to sell it,'' McColgin said, retelling the story yesterday.

But the man did sell it, for a price McColgin didn't want to reveal. And like Goblin, the two-masted schooner he lost in 1991's Hurricane Bob, the shower- and stove-equipped boat became his home.

It isn't really anymore, he said. He's been living at his girlfriend's place the past couple of years. But in the past, before he retired, he spent years commuting from Hyannis to Boston.

He'd get up at 5 a.m. and row ashore on a dingy. Then he'd catch the bus to his job with the State Department of Telecommunications and Energy.

Boats touring the harbor would point out McColgin's ship. That, they'd tell people, isn't Ted Kennedy's boat. The senator's boat is the two-masted schooner moored nearby, called Mya.

Granuaile has an old Deutz two-cylinder diesel engine, and yesterday Gibbs inspected the area from another boat. There was no sheen, no sign of any environmental damage.

But McColgin said many possessions would be destroyed. Pots and pans. Clothes. A new digital radio. And the sailing book he was writing - the hard copy of that sank, too.

Still, McColgin said he'll retrieve his most cherished items: the compass and steering wheel, the one he salvaged from Goblin after Hurricane Bob.

***

She looks eminently savable. Let's hope she in fact is.

***

Alan

[Ian McColgin]

Well, now we have a plan - actually two plans depending. Whatever I do will happen Tuesday.

The remorseless cut the losses plan is to break her up in Hyannis Port. That may prove inevitable depending on the possibilites of timely and cost-effective ground transport anyway.

Alternativly, we may raise her and move her ashore and then I hope to find someone to take her on before I go broke.

Looking realisticly, I am better able to afford a much smaller boat than take on the total rebuild at this point.

Cost out of pocket assuming a reasonably endowned dreamer shows up in a month or less is about the same either way which makes the get her ashore option appealing from the moral don't destroy something of value point of view.

There is considerable salvagable material quite apart from the hull - which does appear salvageable - but profiting from such requires transport and storage and marketing quite beyond my abilities.

A nice option would be for one of the wooden boat yards around here to take her on as a long term project.

My friends and family frankly dread the put-her-on-shore option as they figure I'd never then give her up. And they may be right.

This forum is a devoted crew all of whom I know will be rooting for me to find a way to make Grana whole again or, failing that, would likely come up with the courageous soul who wants her.

I really appreciate the enormous support. I hope everyone realizes that Grana and I need the next four days to commune together to decide what we think is right and possible.

[Ian McColgin]

I am happy to say that we can forget the immediate destructo option. The costs of overwater wrecking exceed almost anything. Some how she's going to end up on shore.

[LisaS]

It sounds like she's still got a will to live...good news!

Lisa S

[Alan D. Hyde]

Leave out the expensive pro's. If you were a long-distance cruiser on a remote coast, you could handle this yourself, with some help, and with some supplies. Both are, fortunately, to be found nearby. Here's the "Matinicus Island lobsterman" option---

It's cheap, practical, not pretty, but can work.

Take some sheets of Lexan and a tub of 5200, and some cordless drills and a sawzall.

Slather 5200 around the holes and use deck screws to fasten the Lexan over them. Pump 'er out. Float 'er off.

Get the water (that doesn't belong there) out of the engine block, and dry off the electrics. Get the water out of the fuel tank. She may start right up... Take 'er where you're going under her own power.

Take as long as you want on a permanent fix. ENJOY the work.

If you're desparately worried about the cost of materials, I might be able to find you a little free teak and (Bruynzeel) mahogany... :D

Alan

Tack into your misfortunes, and they'll drive you ahead. Jack Buswell*

*My uncle Jack, a resourceful, cigar-chomping, Newburyport waterman (among other things).

[ 05-27-2005, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[TomF]

Ian, that's good news. Ever hear the Stan Rogers song "The Mary Ellen Carter?" About the crew raising a fishing vessel, that had sunk in a storm? I'll quote a couple of verses, prompted by Alan's grand posting above.

...

All winter we've been with her, on a barge lent by a friend
3 dives a day in a hardhat suit, and twice I've had the bends
Thank God it's only 60 feet and the currents here are slow
Or I'd never have the strength to go below

But we've patched her rents, stopped her vents
Dogged hatch and porthole down
Tied cables to her fore and aft
and girded her around
Tomorrow noon we hit the air and then take up the strain
and make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again.

...
And you to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to and give out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
and like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

..........
Wish I were closer, Ian.

Tom.

[ 05-27-2005, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: TomF ]

[Steve McMahon]

Ian, My thoughts are with you. Take advantage of the offers from the local forumites! Keep in mind the local Volunteer Fire Department if there is one. If you can get her close to a dock those guys love a challenge, an average pumper can draft 1500+ GPM. :eek:

What Alan said!

Tom - you beat me to it, I was just looking up the words. Stan's helped me through a few rough times.

I wish I lived next door to you.

[stormpetrel]

Friday, May 27th--If people can stand to look, Ian
and the boat made the front page of the Cape Cod Times. There's a picture (which shows why I was ok
with not having a digital camera the other day). But the article also has some flattering (and true) comments about Ian. I told him it was too bad that he had to get his 15 minutes of fame
this way. But if you want to see it, go to www.capecodonline.com. (http://www.capecodonline.com.) At least today, it's free,
I don't know about tomorrow. By the way, I just
came into the office after a long day (and loads of traffic) and met Ian on the way out. He said
the plan is to raise her this Tuesday!

[John B]

You know, you get to know the personalities and the boats on this forum and thats hard ,real hard to see.
Thanks for keeping us updated and best of luck for the salvage. :(

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars.

Keep the faith Ian.

[Ross M]

What John B. wrote. Dangit.

[Jack Heinlen]

Sorry for your troubles Ian.

A picture and a thousand words...and all that. If it was as rough as it sounds Grana must be a tough girl to have not broken up.

Good luck.

[BrianW]

Is it possible she sank due to the list induced by being up against the sea-wall? Or, is a large hole below the waterline suspected?

If she just got flooded, I say 'pump'er out and get busy drying.' smile.gif

[Ian McColgin]

The pro, by the way, is giving me a stunning price due to my lack of insurance, my tugboat past - one of his sons is a captain for my old line - and the recommendation of an on-Cape crane operator he knows and has worked with that myself and the two friends who will help me on the water are very competant and safe in rigging work.

I have to use a pro both due to Grana's shere size and the fact that there is litteraly no place on Cape, especially around the mid-Cape, to just drag her up. Even if we could slide 20 tons. The environmental barriors alone are huge.

We really have to stick to the salvage plan approved, after only a little arguement, by the Coast Guard. It will be interesting. I hope to get pix once she's in place on shore.

[Hughman]

G'luck!

Let me know if I can help.

Hugh

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Fingers crossed. ;)

[stormpetrel]

Yes-someone said you get to know the players (and
the boats) on the WBF. Now everyone knows that I
may still be "fighting the good fight" but my knowledge and expertise with computers is just
beyond nil. When I posted the message about the
article in the CCT, I hadn't read page 2 of comments, so didn't know that Adam et al had
already provided the info. Oh, well! Now I need
to learn to post directly from the paper to here!
By the way, people do call me the "Good Phil" but
when I'm around the "Bad Phil", he's such a "bad"
(read "fun") influence, that the "bad" side
of me comes to the fore! Thankfully, we finally
got some sun on Cape Cod for the first time in
days! So, with the improving news about Granuaile,
we're not planning to jump off the bridge yet!

[Bob Smalser]

Our best, Ian.

Just tell me how I can help.

[Katherine]

Good Luck Ian. smile.gif

[Lion]

Bummer! Just picked this up. Can't do much from here other than offer moral support. Good luck with Grana's salvage and hopeful restoration.

Lion

[yorgie]

Good luck with this repair Ian.It's a staggering job but you have a big support group around you.I wish I was closer.Keep us posted on your material lists.

Chris Jorgensen

[Tar Devil]

I just became aware of your situation, Ian. So very sorry to hear of this.

As the rest, I will be hoping and praying that this will work out the best possible way for you and your boat.

Best Regards,

Phil

[Nora Lee]

Ian,
If positive thoughts could get this task done, this forum would lift her out of the water with no crane at all!

I am so sorry for your situation.

I am saying prayers for you and Grana and all who are involved with the salvage! Wish that there was more I could do!

Regards,

Nora

[ 05-31-2005, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: Nora Lee ]

[Thad Van Gilder]

Ian, I sent you an offer, check your personal messages.

-Thad

[nedL]

Ian, I am very sorry for your loss, I do hope Grena isn't a total loss. Good luck on lifting her. :(

[sbsbw]

I just came to an emphiany. Though i am not quite sure how it would work.

In the month of may we have seen a couple of grave tradgies. Scot has set up the system for donating in Norm's name.

Perhaps a sort of fund could be devolped for forum members who suffer a loss such as Ian's. Maybe it could function as a sort of Revolving loan fund.

I'm going to post this as a seperate topic in Misc-Boat Related so as not to Hyjack Granuaile tread.

-SBSBW

[Wayne Jeffers]

I've been wondering how the efforts to raise Grana went today.

Any news?

Here's hoping for the best possible report!

Wayne

[StevenBauer]

Yeah, any news? I've been thinking of Ian and Grana all day today.

Steven

[Concordia..41]

Here's hoping no news is good news...

[TomF]

Here's hoping. Been watching this thread all day, hoping for some news.

t.

[Matt J.]

Pins and needles here. Hoping all's going well up north.

[Bob Perkins]

Ian,

I hope this works out for the best...
That storm caused a lot of damage..
:(

Bob

[Ed Harrow]

I have a call in...

[stormpetrel]

June 1, 4 o'clock update (what little I know). They didn't try to raise her yesterday, in part b/c it took the barge and tow guys several hours
to get from Mattapoisett to Hyannisport. And, if
any of you saw the weather report--I am not making this up!--the Cape Cod Times claimed we
could get hit with some hail! (It didn't happen).
Well, this a.m. I went down to the harbor about
9 a.m. (Ian had said it would be "first light",
but somehow I knew better). Ian, Paul, and Loring
(fellow boaters with experience removing their
boats' masts, etc.) were going out to the dock
to catch a ride to the salvage site. The boss was
there, and we all joked about how the guy bringing in the Boster whaler (the transport) was
moving quite slowly. The other guy said that was
only b/c the boss was there. Anyway, Ian was mentioning that the damage included 3 or 4 holes
that might be above the waterline (but would have
been made b/c the boat lists quite far under even
normal conditions). I noticed someone on the forum
questioned this--maybe!! Anyway, I had to go back
to work, and have to leave the office soon--haven't heard anyuthing. I expect Ian himself will
be in here later to provide the details.

[Concordia..41]

Fingers, toes & eyes crossed...

[sbsbw]

I wish i was there to see the operation.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET IT BE MINOR.

[Ian McColgin]

Granuaile will be broken up.

Yesterday three of the finest friends a person could have - Loring, Patrick and Paul in alphabetical order - joined me to be the derigging crew. Phil - Stormpetrel here - saw us off.

We failed to get her fully up. The soft mud of the bottom filled her truely capacious bilges and a couple inches over the soles. A volume calculation indicates that the mud added 10 tons - no bull! - to her normal 20 and the rated at 35 ton crane could not get her out. Today we'll get some bigger pumps that can move mud slurry, some discharging deep in the mess to stir it up and others sucking out.

The damage, once we had her up a ways, was far worse than imagined. I had a chance to look at the trail of paint - both bottom and topsides - left for about 100 feet on the jetty and could better understand. The starboard side has about twenty holes about 2'x2'. Some clearly inflicted by the same rock as she bounced along.

The worse is that the concrete and steel keel is badly fractured, twisted partly on the remaining keel bolts that are bent and pushed around in the wooden part of the keel, garboards wrung and like that.

The rudder was rammed straight up so hard that the horn beam on that aft stem was moved and the hood ends of all that planking busted loose. The aft cabin has a water tight bulkhead and we were dewatering foreward of there and lifting a little bow down, so that came out full of water. It was coming in firm little sheets out the seam between the horn beam and the planks.

The first move appeared a good omen. The crane took me to the main truck and I very easily dropped the two triadics there. Next the diver - an ex SEAL son of the salvage master, tunneled through the mud ahead of the rudder and abaft the keel to get a sling under there. That let the crane move her more upright getting the rudder and much of the keel out of the mud and the cabin trunk out of the water up to the foremast.

While the diver worked at patching, Patrick and I got the sails off the masts and refurled on the booms and then took the booms off. About the time we'd finished that, the diver had patched a half dozen pretty big holes and had a count on more. He'd also had a really good look at the keel damage.

Pow-wow time.

But the reality of the decision was already obvious.

There was nothing in Hyannis Harbor that could lift a mess like that, much less a way to block her for hauling.

We tried a a couple of straight picks with no success. We then spent several hours with the boat held by the slings a little below her waterlines while the diver passed loose stuff out - soggy mattresses, cloths, books and 13 years of back WoodenBoat issues now effectively papermache - anything that could slow the pumps.

We simply sawsalled the stays and set her back in the mud vertically - holes so big she really dove to the bottom - to pluck the three sticks that came out very easily.

With any luck we'll get the mud out today and get her on the barge for her final ride.

[Donn]

:(

[John Bell]

What a heartbreaker... :(

[JimD]

:(

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( Awwwww man, I'm so sorry for you Ian

[Thad]

You sound alright, Ian. That's good!! Thanks for the reports. I understand about the tangling of anchors, but I like seperate rodes so the forces are fully shifted from one anchor to another instead of leveraging one with the other. Personally I was lucky with SEA HARMONY. Marblehead is a lot rougher in a NE blow and 5 boats were wrecked on the rocks including one that hit boats just upwind of us but missed SEA HARMONY. Our mooriing had just been reset with new chain the week before and I had Sunday moved her to her mooring and adjusted the chaff gear on her new pennants. By Monday afternoon it was getting dangerously rough to think about getting aboard to make any changes. One person we know saw that one of his pennants had chaffed through in the height of the blow (chaffing on the Bruce anchor hanging on it's roller as was the case for another Hinckley that survived when the pennants didn't) and one of the Marblehead Trading Co. men got aboard the 50' Hinckley, started the engine and moved her to another mooring, quite a feat in that chaos.

[ 06-02-2005, 08:12 AM: Message edited by: Thad ]

[nedL]

:( Ian, I'm sorry she has been lost.

[Mrleft8]

May was a very bad month... :(

[Ken Hutchins]

Ian, it's tough to find words to describe how your loss has affected me, deepest sorrow. :( :( :( :(

[Ed Harrow]

Oh, Oh, ....

Interesting, however, that she "sailed" so on an anchor/mooring. I thought that was a phenomenon which arrived with "current" generation sailboats. We have friends whose boat is so "nervous" on an anchor I couldn't sleep the couple of nights I've been aboard.

Their subsequent anchoring history proved my anxious nights; excatly as described by Ian, but not in any sort of wind, even. My suggestion to them was a "sea anchor" off the bow (AFAIK they've not tried the concept.)

[Nora Lee]

Ian,

I wish I could convey my emotions...so sad.

The destruction of a beautiful ship (and home) must belike the loss of a loved one. Hold on to the memories!

I am truly sorry.

Regards,

Nora Lee

[TomF]

I'm with Ken. Ian, I'm so very sorry.

For me, the heart of the WBF has been stuff like your descriptions of schooner sailing - whether in Grana or Goblin. The bit not long ago about your Spring sailing this year, doing some skylarking in Grana in front of the passengers on a tour boat ... It's up there with a piece you wrote perhaps last summer, about singlehanding in a race, drink in hand, and ripping towards the finish line with mounting anxiety about how the hell to stop the runaway train.

For me, and sounds like for many here, a bit of a dream will die with Grana's breakup. Even though I'm not out there living on a Herreshoff 55 footer, at least somebody was. Even though I'm not going to learn to sail such a boat with mastery and elan, somebody could, and did.

Ian, along with living your real life, to an extent you've also been periodically living a sea story for some of us. And through the magic of the internet, we joked and argued with, and grew to respect the guy out there in that story. We got to imagine ourselves sitting in the cockpit, with the seas running. It made the other stories, and our own dreams, more real.

In the last few days I've been reminded that sea stories frequently include wrecks. Just wish it hadn't been Grana. Just wish it hadn't been you.

Tom.

[boatlover]

Ian,

Words fail.

When a dream passes into the deeps - or shallows ...

My sympathy.

Ed R

[ 06-02-2005, 09:31 AM: Message edited by: boatlover ]

[Bill Perkins]

Well said Tom .A piece of our yachting history dies with Grana too.Good luck Ian ,with whatever comes next .

[ 06-02-2005, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: Bill Perkins ]

[StevenBauer]

Oh man. I'm so sorry. What a loss. :(

Steven

[Keith Wilson]

:( :( :( :( :(

[Don Olney]

Ian,

Sorry to hear about the loss of Grana.

-Don

[Gresham CA]

So very sorry Ian.

[wyndham]

Heart wrenching. I'm so sorry Ian.

[Thad Van Gilder]

I also am so very sorry for your loss, Ian.

-Thad

[Bill Dodson]

My condolences :(

Bill

[Seth Wood]

Ian, this is bad news. I'm sorry. Instead of posting a litany of sympathetic obscenities -- my initial impulse -- I'll raise a glass to you and to Grana tonight. Lagavullin.

Strength to you.

[John B]

Sorry Ian. dreadful. :(

[Concordia..41]

Add my condolences. I am so truly sorry. :(

- M

[Harry Miller]

:( :(
And thanks to Tom for expressing what I feel so much better than I could.

[Bruce Hooke]

I'm so sorry, Ian.

- Bruce

[Alan D. Hyde]

Damn.

If you can find another worthy vessel and save her, you have my offer of help.*

We're shipmates here, at the best of it. We'll raise a glass of Glenfiddich to Grace O'Malley tonight (I never can pronounce "Granuille" in the proper Irish. Douglas Hyde would cringe...).

Alan

* Care rarely sits behind a rider whose pace is fast enough. Theodore Roosevelt

[Ross Faneuf]

My deepest and most sincere sympathies. Words simply fail me.

[rbgarr]

I'm relieved there was no fuel spilll hassle that might have added to your current troubles. It sounds like you had a lot of great help and together made the necessary (but sadly unfortunate) decision in the circumstances.

Thanks for telling us about the difficulties of the day, and best of luck to you, Ian!

[Matt J.]

Damn! Sorry Ian. I'm heartened to hear you "sound" OK, though.

Tom said it best. I just got internet back to find this... :(

Rarus is yours to sail, and we're all hear to listen, both any time you like.

[htom]

:( So very, very sad to hear this, Ian. :(

[Figment]

The loss of Grana touches us all.
At least we still have her skipper!

[Dave Fleming]

Not much to say,sigh.

Lets hope the items salvaged from Granna can be of use in your new boat. ;)

[Buddy Sharpton]

I'm so sorry and can only somewhat imagine your feelings. Hope you can enjoy all the memories and incorporate some of what is salvaged in your life's next chapter. There's order and chaos in our lives. So delicate a balance. But over the years of reading your words and thoughts, I surely believe you will cope with any challenge.

Buddy

[LisaS]

Ian -

I'm so very sorry...

Lisa

[BrianW]

Well, we had hope. Now we know the real deal.

Spend a few nights drinking to her memory (if your a drinking type) and then start planning for the next boat.

We all know about the 'two happiest days for a boat owner'... well you were robbed of one of those days, so make the next 'buying' day extra special. smile.gif

[Stu Fyfe]

Sorry Ian. You've certainly had your share of boating heartaches. Let us know if we can help.

[stormpetrel]

June 2--4 o'clock update. I received a call from Ian last night, and realized that there had been a lot of "wishing and hoping" in the messages yesterday. But I was sick when I read Ian's account. TomF summed up well my feelings--and I'm one of the mates who had the opportunity to share some of the sea-faring dreams. So sad. . . but so comforting to have so many people writing in here who understand and share the sentiments.
So, everbody, please start scouting for another boat for Ian! Thanks!

[Ed Harrow]

"...After the storm passed, cottage heard the sailboats off to one side, and so Cottage called out to ask Melody how she had made out in the storm. Melody told her that the girl had come down and tied some extra lines to her mooring, and then left her. "That was a bit scary," Melody said, "I'd have felt more comfortable in a more protected spot. When it is really windy we boats move around a lot, sometimes our anchor lines break, and we get washed into each other, or up onto the shore. Sometimes there is nothing left of us."

Cottage felt smug and secure. "We're all well anchored to the ground," Cottage replied. "We don't have to have extra lines added, or worry if our families don't come down to check on us."..."

There are some losses so difficult to contemplate :(

[Ian McColgin]

Very quick update.

Everything is harder than anticipated. We got her up to a nice decks awash height for the diver to start working patches on. Took him 6 hours underwater to put on about 128 square feet of patching to support a like amount of rubber tacked and battened over. This got her tight enough that a trio of pumps - 6", 4" and 3" - could float her. But it was a huge pain with clothing and books and all sorts of stuff constantly clogging the strum boxes. The worst was that there'd been insulation between the hull and ceiling. The numerous holes were from pointy rocks and went through both, allowing the insulation to turn into a pump killing fiberglass gurry. Very nasty to clear.

Once she was up to about normal waterlines, the salvage crew went at her hammer and tongs to get dead weight out - amazing how much a saturated mattress weighs - and to collect trophies. I am happy to say that they had a keen eye for things that might be of huge sentimental value to me. They also fully realized a salvor's dream of useful cargo. The wreck is really now theirs so all the spools of line are theirs.

There was a scene in the movie of Zorba the Greek, I think, where some old lady dies and all these harridans descend on her house and loot it before the body was even cold. Felt a bit like that.

I've done salvage jobs myself and knew what to expect.

I meditated on it deeply last night.

I was still not fully prepared, especially as I was doing a lot of the grunt work myself.

With all that we did not get her ready for the tow to Matapoisett. Sank her again for the night and will with luck finish enough patching that I can see her off tomorrow.

By the way, salvors work very very hard. I can't begin to add the number of calories each man burned but a very hard day mountaineering is about the only equivalent. Lots of labor-saving gizmos - cranes and pumps and all - but nothing replaces norweegan steam.

[formerlyknownasprince]

Very sad update .......

Best of luck Ian

Ian

[J. Dillon]

Ian,
Very sorry to hear of your situation. I am a bit confused. Are you intending to fix her up or are you in the market for a new boat?

Good luck in either case.

JD

[Meerkat]

Let me be the first to congratulate you on the opening of a new chapter in your life, however rough the end of the last one has been! smile.gif

Call your next boat "Grenache" smile.gif

[chergui]

Ian, very sorry to hear this. What a nightmare. Sounds like it is unsalvagable?

Jon

[Concordia..41]

.

[Marcio Moreira]

:( :(

[Mike Field]

.
So sorry to hear this dreadful news, Ian.

Mike
.

[Hughman]

Damn.

[Scott Rosen]

This is disheartening news. I'm so sorry.

If there's a silver lining to this cloud, it's the strength that you are showing to the rest of us. You write like a Pulitzer-winning war correspondent in the heat of battle. Your posts are compelling and have an immediacy which could only come from someone of strong character, great intelligence and deep emotion.

When the salvage work is done, take some time to mourn.

[ 06-02-2005, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: Scott Rosen ]

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

I'm sorry for Grana. By all accounts a steadfast and proud ship, and one that carrys many memories for you and your family Ian.

It's funny how we apply gender to boats, mostly "She's" but the occasional "he" is fitting as well. As I've said before, I feel much like a caretaker rather than an owner of a wooden boat. I believe boats become more than simply possessions, or the creation of a single designer or builders yard. They become a moving living home for many of us, and we all are guilty of imparting human characteristics to them.

Our boats are guardians of us as well. They protect us from the elements during an activity which altho sport and hobby for most of us, is old as man himself.

Ian, you were an experienced and conscientious caretaker of Grana till the last. The waves and wind have held final judgement over many a fine vessel (and their crew). Grana took no casualties with her. For the soul of your lost vessel, I say a prayer of fair winds and sunny skies to her, with perhaps a bit of spray on her lee rail. There will be other boats, but her memory will remain with you and yours... and us too.

Farewell Grana. ;)

[L.W. Baxter]

The boat that served you well is, in turn, well served by you, Ian.

Even in destruction Granuaile has both beauty and purpose, both of which can be found in your words.

[Jack Heinlen]

I'm very sorry Ian. I had hopes she'd just been minorly holed, but that didn't happen, the wind blowing, I worried.

Maybe, as a lesson to your experience you could tell us what you've learned about having a big schooner? Was there no insurance? I assume she was insured except by way of salvage? If she wasn't, or was, what have you learned?

Again, I'm sorry. It is, as TomF said, a death. I can only compare it to the death of my dog, because I've never lived it, but it has similar resonance. Well, I'd rather lose my schooner than my dog.

Don't push it away.

[ 06-03-2005, 08:54 AM: Message edited by: Jack Heinlen ]

[BrianW]

Meerkat,

In all good humor, I think I beat you by about 6 posts. Good call though! smile.gif

[Ian McColgin]

Insurance is a cost/benefit risk guess.

I carry some liability on my lisence so that I can handle any responsibilities coming from causing damage or injury to others. Hull insurance for a large older wooden live-aboard boat where the owner has no shore property is nigh on to non-existant.

I had some on Goblin for her first couple of years but that company left the market. Insurors like Hagerty, wonderful folk in their line, were not at the time interested. When I got Grana I found only insuror and that quote was so high that even with the out-of pocket salvage costs I'd passed the break-even point a couple of years ago.

Off-shore cruising insurance is notoriously high. I never wanted to step into my life raft with the thought that the insurance premiums were paid up.

But in other circumstances insurance makes very good sense. Once I find a way to afford a new boat, I will be looking at insurance from that new perspective and will make the risky choise of insuring or not based on the facts and risks at hand.

[Thad Van Gilder]

Ian,
You mentioned that maybe a smaller boat would do?

Right across the creek from Ivy is a marina... Graif's, that is storing a 34 or so foot Malabar (Junior, I think) that noone wants.

She's not in bad shape, however she has no engine, and she needs a plank or two.

Last work I heard was that the owner wants someone to sail her again and that she is available for a song.

If you want the info on her, let me know. My shop is 8 miles or so from there, and I'd surely share my equiptment with you to help you out.

-Thad

[adampet]

AFAIK Roll And Go is still at the Northside Marina in Dennis.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Thad Van Gilder very generous offer, supper nice of ya. The very best that this forum is all about. Ian you like to sail with out an engine if I remember correctly ;)

[ 06-03-2005, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson ) ]

[Ian McColgin]

I expect that Grana is underweigh by now, strapped to the barge. The salvor was going to call me but in the event they got going at very first light to get the current if possible, and did me the kindness of not calling. I do mean that. I've done my share of the work the last couple of days and thoroughly behaved myself by staying at the service of the salvor. I remember too well some boat jobs I've done where I really am justified in charging more per hour if the owner "helps." Don't want to be like that.

Below I have moved an e-mail letter to family and some loved ones who have the temerity not to read the WoodenBoat Forum. I want to share it here.

e-mail is weird. It lets me say to a lot of folk important in my life what I want to say all at once, like getting everyone together and talking. It has the look of a mass mailing but is highly personal as I contemplate the different ways each of you will be reading this.

The references below [omitted for this post, but they are to this thread and to the mechanics of the loss thread] are a way of getting the information about the loss of Granuaile to you and incidentally seeing what a wonderful cyber-community the WoodenBoat forum can be. You can easily scan to just my posts and the post that has the Cape Cod Times article, but the other comments are well worth the read.

The first thread focuses on the evolving story that leads to the inevitability of Granuaile being broken up for scrap.

The second is my first theory or how she came loose, followed by my discovery that the facts were different from what I'd first supposed.

So much for the facts. For the heart: A loss of this sort has three levels of pain.

Sailors come to love their boats and see them as far more than inanimate objects. It's very like the loss of a loved one. I do not happen to have a faith with a nice rosy heaven, the place where Mom will find a good pack and the fox will go safely to earth each time while I find Granuaile and a perfect sea to sail. But I do subscribe to the so-called law regarding the conservation of mass and energy. I see us all, and by "us" I include some stuff we consider from our incarnated perspective as inanimate, as part of a universal chain of being. In the profoundest sense, Granuaile cannot be lost.

There's also the loss of a dream of global sailing. But that's an apparent loss. I will be sailing for so long as I've this life and I may very well get a globe-worthy boat again somehow some day. It's not that the dream is lost, but that it must be transformed with a different pile of hard work than the former version. Most deeply, that's not such a huge change.

Finally, there was the pain of being part of scrapping her. You'll get a sense of that near the end of the first thread. This was a very savage but very cathartic pain. The sheer physical work of moving and trashing stuff that had been such an important part of my life was an excellent form of grieving.

[PatCassidy]

Ian, I bought my first sailboat in 1996. I had been a member of sailing clubs before that. The following year I got hold of a Vertue made by Cheoy Lee - a real fixer-upper but still beautiful - all teak!

However, I also learned back then about sailing on other people's boats! I sailed to Panama and to Hawaii on my vacation time and sailed almost every weekend on various schooners in the Los Angeles area.

You don't have to scuttle your cruising plans. You just have to re-arrange them. But, yes, you do have to do something to keep a tie with the ocean.

p.s. I ended up almost giving the Vertue away and had to sell my Catalina 30 last month.

Boatless in Los Angeles

:( :( :( :(

[ 06-03-2005, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: PatCassidy ]

[outofthenorm]

Ian, your courage is remarkable, and I feel certain that your strength and resolve will be rewarded. - Norm

[George.]

Ian, what terrible news! :( I hope there is insurance involved. Best of luck with salvage and repairs - wish I could offer help somehow from down here.

[sawcutmill]

Ian, sorry to hear/read of this recent news.
I second what TomF said.....now it is your turn to write a book on your experiences, cause we could all learn a little, and prosper by it, not to mention it would be a fabulous read....Stephen

[Alan D. Hyde]

Get back on the horse.

Write your book in the cockpit of your new boat.

The best antidote for a setback, is to move ahead, learning from what the event can teach you, but enriched, and not daunted, by it.

Alan

[Art Read]

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for..."

Many sailors will live their whole lives without a major seaborn mishap. But there are some, those who LIVE the lifestyle, rather than "dabble" in it, who will have aquired quite a resume of experience that most of us would prefer to avoid.

I once spent a memorable evening on the stern of "MYSTIC CLIPPER", drinking rum from tin cups, with a group of other schooner skippers telling lies while gathered together for the launch ceremony for "PRIDE of BALTIMORE II". We all took turns telling of our worst experiences. (And believe me, there were some that would turn your hair gray!) It was finally the turn of the most senior, most respected amounst us. He looked down into his cup... swirled it around a bit, and finally said, "Boys... You drive these things long enough, often enough, well, it don't matter how good you are. The sea will find you..." We all nodded somberly and the subject moved on to more "cheerful" memories. It wasn't 'till after he'd gone back to his own boat that we realised he never did tell us HIS story!

Anyway, Godspeed, Ian... (And thanks for sharing YOUR story/stories.)

[TC]

Ian,
Man.... I'm so sorry.
I've learned a lot about boats and sailing from reading your posts over the years. If it's any small consolation, your riveting updates of Grana's fate are an education, too.
All the best,
Tim

[PeterSibley]

Ian....words are very inadequate,at least mine are, ...yours are as usual entirely adequate.I'm most dreadfully sorry ,it is a terrible loss.

You will however achieve your dream,I will and if I can....you most certainly will ! smile.gif

My very best wishes at the end of chapter one.

[Ed Harrow]

Originally posted by Ian McColgin:
...Sailors come to love their boats and see them as far more than inanimate objects. It's very like the loss of a loved one. The loss of a loved one is like a stone, fresh-cleaved from larger rock. At first it is sharp, angular, and at best unpleasant, if not painful, to hold.

Over time, however, the sharp edges begin to abrade, and eventually the stone becomes so gently rounded we pick it up, gaze upon it, hold and roll it in our hands, and derive comfort and pleasure from it.

Ian,you are a man for the ages,and we are the larger for your presence.

[bob goeckel]

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

[Jack Heinlen]

"Get back on the horse."

While, perhaps, not wrong, this optimism is a bit out of place. Ian just lost Grana. A bit of grief is in order. He hasn't even seen the damage, let's have a breath or two.

I'm grieving, and it wasn't even my ship.

There is a time for all the seasons. Constant pushing forward is a little ill.

[ 06-06-2005, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: Jack Heinlen ]

[Chris Coose]

Ian,
Come to Portland some weekend (or whenever) this summer.
Take Victoria or me and Victoria sailing.

[Alan D. Hyde]

A difference in philosophy.

And not a difference which suggests less regard for the boat--- it may suggest more.

Think of Teddy's first wife, for example...

Alan

Care rarely sits behind a rider whose pace is fast enough. Theodore Roosevelt

[Wayne Jeffers]

I'm just back from a week away.

I was hoping to find good news from the salvage efforts. :(

I share your grief.

To better times ahead,

Wayne

[Joe Dupere]

Ian, I've been reading this thread from the beginning and have been reluctant to post, just because I don't really know what to say. I've always enjoyed your posts about her and I can only feel in some small measure what you must be feeling now. So I'll just say, I'm really sorry about Grana. You'll be in my thoughts.

Joe

[Leon m]

Sorry Ian .I,m sure once you have finished mourning,things will come your way again...life is a circle...

[Wild Dingo]

****e! Grana gone? Ian mate you truely have our sympathies and we can offer the only thing left to us at this time and that is our encouragement and best wishes for the next phase... gawd I cant imagine how it would feel to loose your beloved boat mmmm actually mate I think I can but you know what I mean

Thoughts and love coming to you from the empty wet drowned out shell down under

A minor hickup on the road of life my friend... seems you and I have a grand opportunity to look life staight in the eye swear worse than a wharf rat on heat then with a totally clean palete start all over again

All the best to you and your mob mate

[ 06-09-2005, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

[Kermit]

A friend once lost his house and all of its contents to fire. He told me that for a few days he had the most incredible sense of freedom--he could go anywhere and start over any way he wanted.

I cannot begin to imagine that the same experience could come in the wake of your loss.

May you rise again, friend!

[Garrett Lowell]

Ian, I am sorry for your loss.

[Alan D. Hyde]

So, are you saving her fittings?

Cleaning out usable items from below decks?

Surely her hardware is much of it worth salvaging?

Alan

[Ian McColgin]

In this sort of contract my principle goal is to keep the price down. The salvor and I agreed on an estimate of gear value, which was considerable as i was building inventory against a rebuild and rerigging. He gets it all and I get a bill I can cope with.

I did keep some highly personal items, such as the slide rule that Dad won in an engineering contest in 1939.

Oddly enough, a couple in Fairhaven found a purpose made PFD I'd created in my tug boat days - exact pockets for exactly what I carried and a bullet proof exterior to stand the rough work. They called wondering how it had floated around to there. I'll recapture that next week.

But basicly, my first duty was to cause the removal of about 30 tons of hazardous waste and to realize that I've no back-up land to create a nautical junk yard of my own.

[Tom Robb]

Sorry to hear about your loss, Ian. I can only hope that in the end some sort of good may be found, or come out of it. Obviously not much of that so far:(

[rbgarr]

Ian-

Ugh. Your posts have shown us all how to swallow big, dry chunks of hardtack without the benefit of chewing. Tough, bitter, shocking, unavoidable decisions.

I spent a couple of days last weekend on the Cape taking my son to visit my mother. The weather was very mild and sunny (Finally! Praise be!) and we drove out to enjoy the Outer Beach hollows and dunes. I debated with myself on the return to Osterville whether to drive the Hyannisport Beach loop to see if Grana was there... but I just couldn't do it.

In the 60s, my brother's godfather kept his raised-deck powerboat there and whenever he took us fishing for stripers I was kind of frightened by that Hyannisport breakwater. The puny light in its spindly tower at the seaward end never looked impressive enough to adequately warn anyone who might approach the breakwater in haze, fog or darkness. He told us the rockpile was supposed to keep the harbor safe, but Rocks and Cape Cod seemed like such a contradiction to me at that age. Mud, eelgrass and sand bars, yes. But huge blocks of black, wet granite encrusted with barnacles and brown, beckoning kelp?! Nightmarish.

The thought of Grana being clawed at by those rocks is very, very hard for me to picture.

I shut my inner eye just thinking about it, and I can't imagine how wrenchingly difficult it must have been for you all the way around. I am horrifiedly sorry.

[Nora Lee]

Ian,

My motto for life has been,

You can't change the wind but you can adjust your sails!

My thoughts and prayers are with you, as you adjust yours!

Regards,

Nora Lee

[winslow]

Sorry to hear about Granuaile

I lost all to a fire 'bout 20 years ago - have remained relatively unburdened since - there is a certain freedom in that

I hope you're getting rest when you need it.

-winslow

[ 06-17-2005, 01:52 PM: Message edited by: winslow ]

[BrianR]

"I'm sorry" seems hardly sufficient. You should know, however, that I share in your grief.

[ 06-16-2005, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: BrianR ]

[ken mcclure]

I am stricken.

The Marco Polo design has been in my dreams since I got Sensible Cruising Designs as a present.

Knowing full well that I'll never build one, and never afford to have one built I've sort of pushed my dreams over onto Grana and Ian and hoped to live the world cruise vicariously.

I share your loss, Ian. I wish I could make it easier.

[Bonnie Larkin]

Sir, if you are ever our way, The Ileola would welcome you.

and would someone close to Ian please write his story? His humility would cause him to leave out the best bits, I feel sure.

[Ian McColgin]

Me? Humility? You jest!

(Figured I'd better get that in before the chorus of those who actually know and those who think they know actually agree.)

[Bonnie Larkin]

I know a wise person when they tell me they know little.