Even on a tiny island fringed with coral in the South Pacific there are OCC members willing to lend a hand, help solve problems and fly in with boat spares
It’s 10 days since we returned to our boat, Shimshal, on the tiny Pacific island of Raiatea and, during that time, we have discovered a daunting list of gear failures.
Today was a turning point in our struggle to get Shimshal ocean ready. Ernie Godshalk, OCC Port Officer for Boston, was first to answer our distress call from dry land. When we discovered our headsail furler was jammed he sourced a replacement from Rhode Island and somehow found room for it in his luggage to fly with it to Tahiti and then to sail with it to within a mile of our dock. The ceremonial handover of the critical part took place soon after sunset on board his palatial chartered catamaran. We took our French friends, Yves and Barbara along to the spare part hand over as they too are OCC members who have been coming to the assistance of Shimshal for several years.
It was in Moorhead City in 2022 that Barbara used a retired sail batten to unblock the outlet of our full holding tank whilst Shimshal was hard aground on a mud bank. A veterinarian by trade it was second nature for her to administer a vigorous boat enema regardless of the consequences! Today Barbara performed delicate surgery within the claustrophobic conditions of our anchor locker. Once she had prepared the patient, Yves went in to supply the required muscle. After only a few expletives he emerged sweating and triumphant. The defunct windlass had been removed - a task that I had struggled with for 2 days! What’s more, the replacement is already in a Customs warehouse in Papeete! Two big steps forward today and we are ever so grateful for the camaraderie, resourcefulness and skills of our friends in the OCC. Fair winds and many thanks to Ernie, Anne, Barbara and Yves.
