Coastie04 Posted August 18, 2007 Posted August 18, 2007 Unfortunately, I've been away from the pub for quite a while, with moving and organizing a 7-boat (not pirate related) event. However, I've been following this story closely since I first heard that the schooner Robertson II ran aground and capsized. She's a pretty schooner from the 1940s, and was the last Canadian fishing schooner actually fishing. Later, she was moved to the west coast and became a sail training vessel for a Canadian organization called SALTS. Eventually, she was sold and became a yacht. THEN TRAGEDY STRUCK... Luckily, all onboard were rescued safely. She ran aground on a charted reef while attempting to anchor. As the tide went out, she capsized (Royaliste, sorry to bring back old memories). Things were rather hopefull at first, as there was progress and initially little to no damage. However, the tides and equipment were not on the Robbie's (Robbie being a nickname for the boat) side. After her keel was broken during attempted salvage, the owner had enough (and likely spent enough) and gave up the ship for dead. A former Robbie sailor purchased the boat with the intent to save her. As of today, I saw news that she was floating for the first time in 6 weeks!!! She's buoyed up by airbags both inside and out, but will be towed and, funds willing, be repaired. Below are some articles that show the progress. Even I had lost hope after a couple of weeks and increased damage from both sitting on the rocks, and through salvage attempts. http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonis...3214ea5&k=43472 http://www.saanichnews.com/portals-code/li...=1041135&more=0 http://www.oakbaynews.com/portals-code/lis...=1046624&more=0 Coastie She was bigger and faster when under full sail With a gale on the beam and the seas o'er the rail
Hester Posted August 18, 2007 Posted August 18, 2007 Hi, Coastie: Thanks for the update. I'll be near Saltspring Island next week. I'll let you know if I spot the Robbie, or hear any further developments of the salvage/repair. Cheers, Hester
Coastie04 Posted August 22, 2007 Author Posted August 22, 2007 Well, the optimism is now over. Looks like there's no chance of saving the boat. They thought that they almost had it a couple of times, but she just won't leave the reef. http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/854428.html Coastie She was bigger and faster when under full sail With a gale on the beam and the seas o'er the rail
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