A wreck in my life

This is Riduna III. She was our only home from when we left England in 1968, until 1972 in Grenada by which time Pete, who was 18 months when we left, outgrew his sleeping space, an adapted cupboard below one of the fo'csle bunks, and there was no other space suitable for him. We sold her to someone in the Islands and she eventually changed hands several times before she ended up in Bequia, long after we left the Caribbean in 1979. She was repainted and owned by a local resident who raced her in island races. She was not designed for racing, she was designed to cope with the North sea, a Clive Mort design based on a Colin Archer, using the basic shape of the North sea lifeboats of 1925, tough old girls that ventured out in the worst of weather to save vicims of the sea.

Years later my brother, Pete returned to Bequia on a bare-boat charter and found Riduna III, up on the beach and in an irreversible condition. He spent time with her owner, Hodge Taylor, someone we’d known during our years there, and caught up with Ridunas life during the years following our departure.

Petes account, which I can't seem to link to but is on the 'Pete the nomad' site in my side bar, under the 'Pete the Nomad' choice of his 3 sites, then 'Stories', then 'RIP Riduna III', still brings a tear to my eye, and dad still treasures his memento. (Sorry, I've tried and tried and couldn't get the link to work direct to the page).

It may be difficult to imagine that a boat can evoke such strong emotions and I can't imagine feeling the same way about a house. A house can be replaced with bricks and mortar. There will never be another Riduna III and no-one else will ever have the pleasure of sailing her. We would have all preferred to think of her carrying on afloat, enjoyed by another enthusiast on further voyages. Our boats were a part of us, an integral part of our cruising lifestyle, and we believed that if you look after a boat than she will look after you. A racing life just pushed her too far.

I'm off to visit Mum and Dad this coming week whilst the Gadgetkids are away on their respective activities and I hope to spend some time taking notes of our life on Riduna III. Most of my own memories are of the Caribbean and on Kim, rather than the Med and Atlantic crossing.