Meeting David Robertson
I received a call from a gent called David Robertson, via the yacht club manager, in September 2018. It was a Thursday morning and during our brief chat, Dave mentioned that he was the first person to actually sail Lemera, Les, the builder, having spent 20 years building her but then was too old to sail her.
I was in a work meeting and could not talk for more than a few minutes but Dave mentioned that he was visiting a relative in Cape Town, at which point I invited him to accompany me the following Saturday, to the boat, for my usual Saturday visit. He was glad for the invitation and we arranged that I collect him the Saturday morning to meet his old friend, Yacht Lemara.
I also mentioned to Dave, in closing, that I had made a number of significant changes to the boat, amongst which was having built a doghouse over the previously open cockpit. That process is given space in this blog under the title "Building the Doghouse"
I collected Dave on Saturday morning from the relative where he was staying. Almost as soon as we started driving, he said, somewhat tongue in cheek: "I'm very upset with you". "Why?" I asked surprised. He replied: "You've spoilt the boat by building a doghouse. I couldn't sleep just thinking about it!"
I laughed: "Dave," I said. "I haven't spoilt her at all. The boat was designed to have a doghouse but Les never built it. opting instead to mount the boom lower than the designer had intended, which made it impossible to install a doghouse. I simply completed the original design in a way that I'm sure you will approve of!"
We chatted a drove on to Hout Bay, where the boat is moored. I stopped on the quayside with a view of the yacht mole where all the yachts are tethered. Lemara is the third boat from the start of the walkon and can easily be seen from the quayside "There she is" I said, pointing to the boat. "Wow!!" exclaimed Dave. "You've done a magnificent job!" I thought that you would have cobbled together a scrappy looking structure over the cockpit, but that looks like it was always meant to be there!" I could see tears welling up in his eyes.
"Wait till you see the inside," I said.
We walked onto the boardwalk and soon we were standing next to the boat. I helped him on board and opened the zippers on the doghouse drop-down sides. he stepped inside and could not believe what he saw. "Wow, wow" was all he said. I unlocked the entrance to the main cabin and we descended the stairs. The interior that he saw can be seen in the chapter "building the interior". Once again, he was dumbstruck by the work that was done, as I showed him around. We chatted in the boat for a while and he sat in the doghouse, taking in the extent of the work. I took a picture of him in the doghouse, and this is below.
We decided to go for a drive to Simonstown via Chapmans Peak drive, which Dave had never had the pleasure of experiencing. Just before saying goodbye to his boat, I took a picture of him on the walk on with his arm on the pulpit. This is below.
We drove to Simonstown and had lunch at the Salty Dog, which is a favorite spot for the best fish and chips in the harbor. Picture below. Dave said it was one of the best days of his life. He returned to his home in Springs, near Johannesburg but thanks to the magic of modern technology, we are in touch via WhatsApp both by way of calls and messages. He gave permission for me to use his photographs in this post.
I received a call from a gent called David Robertson, via the yacht club manager, in September 2018. It was a Thursday morning and during our brief chat, Dave mentioned that he was the first person to actually sail Lemera, Les, the builder, having spent 20 years building her but then was too old to sail her.
I was in a work meeting and could not talk for more than a few minutes but Dave mentioned that he was visiting a relative in Cape Town, at which point I invited him to accompany me the following Saturday, to the boat, for my usual Saturday visit. He was glad for the invitation and we arranged that I collect him the Saturday morning to meet his old friend, Yacht Lemara.
I also mentioned to Dave, in closing, that I had made a number of significant changes to the boat, amongst which was having built a doghouse over the previously open cockpit. That process is given space in this blog under the title "Building the Doghouse"
I collected Dave on Saturday morning from the relative where he was staying. Almost as soon as we started driving, he said, somewhat tongue in cheek: "I'm very upset with you". "Why?" I asked surprised. He replied: "You've spoilt the boat by building a doghouse. I couldn't sleep just thinking about it!"
I laughed: "Dave," I said. "I haven't spoilt her at all. The boat was designed to have a doghouse but Les never built it. opting instead to mount the boom lower than the designer had intended, which made it impossible to install a doghouse. I simply completed the original design in a way that I'm sure you will approve of!"
We chatted a drove on to Hout Bay, where the boat is moored. I stopped on the quayside with a view of the yacht mole where all the yachts are tethered. Lemara is the third boat from the start of the walkon and can easily be seen from the quayside "There she is" I said, pointing to the boat. "Wow!!" exclaimed Dave. "You've done a magnificent job!" I thought that you would have cobbled together a scrappy looking structure over the cockpit, but that looks like it was always meant to be there!" I could see tears welling up in his eyes.
"Wait till you see the inside," I said.
We walked onto the boardwalk and soon we were standing next to the boat. I helped him on board and opened the zippers on the doghouse drop-down sides. he stepped inside and could not believe what he saw. "Wow, wow" was all he said. I unlocked the entrance to the main cabin and we descended the stairs. The interior that he saw can be seen in the chapter "building the interior". Once again, he was dumbstruck by the work that was done, as I showed him around. We chatted in the boat for a while and he sat in the doghouse, taking in the extent of the work. I took a picture of him in the doghouse, and this is below.
We decided to go for a drive to Simonstown via Chapmans Peak drive, which Dave had never had the pleasure of experiencing. Just before saying goodbye to his boat, I took a picture of him on the walk on with his arm on the pulpit. This is below.
We drove to Simonstown and had lunch at the Salty Dog, which is a favorite spot for the best fish and chips in the harbor. Picture below. Dave said it was one of the best days of his life. He returned to his home in Springs, near Johannesburg but thanks to the magic of modern technology, we are in touch via WhatsApp both by way of calls and messages. He gave permission for me to use his photographs in this post.
Hi Andre, Yes the day we spent on Lemara and touring the area was one of the most memorable and enjoyable days of my life. I am very impressed with the work and the modifications you have done to her. I am also so happy that the yacht that I so loved and trusted and that gave me so much pleasure is once again in the hands of such a wonderful gentleman who can appreciate and love her as I did. I know that she will give you as many years and nautical miles of joy and sailing pleasure as she gave me. All the best Dave.
ReplyDeleteHi Andre
ReplyDeleteJust saw this post when a friend flagged it and it brings back memories. I sailed with Dave Robinson around the west coast of Madagascar on Lemara in 1991, when I was a 20 year old student. It was a wild journey with many memories, mishaps and adventures.
Please pass on my greetings and thanks to Dave if you're still in touch--I was forever grateful for the memories, and still sail today.
best wishes