There is a long story associated with this.
GP14 no 13941 has been in need of some serious attention.
It all goes back to that last blog entry when we capsized in the Looe Nationals.
At the time, we knew that the centre board has broken, and needed to be replaced. With a lot of help from other members of the GP14 family, we tried to test-fit another replacement, but it was too wide to fit into the centreboard casing.
So I purchased a new centreboard from Milanes, which we were going to install at the end of the year.
Then the problems started.
As we tried to fix the new centreboard, we realised that the internal centreboard casing was badly damaged, to the extent that we were unable to sail the boat. GP14 13941 was going to be out of commission for a very long time. We tried to get various people to offer to repair her, in vain.
It was was only in early 2018 that Ben Dingwall was able to look at the boat, and arrange to cut open the entire centreboard section in order to assess the damage, and provide an estimate of costs.
Then things got worse.
When he cut open the innards of our beloved craft, Ben discovered that the wooden strengthening members that shaped the hull had rotted through. The photo above gives you just some idea of what it looked like. As you may know from earlier versions of this blog, 13941 was originally built by Speed Sails as a training boat for the BTYC Sailsports organisation. Its a fair assumption that she had been capsized a few times in the first 6 years of her life. In fact, I remember her as "BTYC No 4" at that time, and I'm sure I was personally responsible for at least one capsize. Then, I have had a couple of additional incidents since I purchased her myself. So the internal wood had rotted.
We had some helpful phone calls and emails with the insurance company, who were not able to pay for the internal wood rot, but were able to pay for the centreboard.
So the plans are in hand for the extensive repairs to be made.
In the meantime, I have been out-of-circulation of the sailing game for a while. I even missed the WHSC Venetian Trophy in early April - the first time that has happened in 12 years.
But I was out in a club boat during the last two Saturdays - crossed the line in 4th place on a couple of occasions - so I'm beginning to look forward to sailing seriously once the boat is returned
Expect to hear that we are out on the water in 13941 again soon...
Watch this space.
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