Ireland has always punched well above its weight on the Sail Training circuit. The reasons for this were the qualities of Asgard II and its crew rather than Ireland's reputation as a nation of seafarers. It would be a great shame if we were to wrap up this most successful of institutions says Tall ship sailor Fiacc OBrolchain.Since the launch of Asgard II in 1981 more than 10,000 young people have sailed with the scheme and for many of them it has been a life changing experience. It gives them confidence in their abilities from taking on a challenge that they can experience nowhere else but at sea.
The compelling reason for re-building/salvaging Asgard II is its size and its rig. At a full strength of 25, (five crew and 20 trainees) it is the perfect number for presenting this unique experience. The dynamic within this group is always lively and yet of a size to be very manageable. The late Captain Eric Healy who was Captain for so many years and gave his life to Sail Training said that you should never let a trainee be idle for more than seven minutes!
Having crewed with many (and organised a few) sail training schemes in several parts of the world I have never come across a scheme that offered better fun and hard work than Asgard II.
What happened on September 11th is still unknown but congratulations are due to Captain Newport and his crew for bringing the sad loss to a perfect rescue.
There are many further reasons for the rebuild/salvage argument. Ireland is well below international average in its available sail training berths. To substitute Jeannie Johnston would reduce the number. Jeannie Johnston might well come to the rescue for a time while a new vessel was being built or the old one was being re-fitted, but in the longer term it has its own place in Ireland's sailing community and it is needed filling it own role. It is also too big for the Asgard II role.
There is one ex-Captain of Asgard II who would change the rig to a brig and another who would make the hull a little less 'chunky' and a number of cooks who would like to have a say! There may be a opportunity to iron out some imperfections, but these should not delay the process of getting the sail training scheme running again in the form that has proved so successful for so long.
Re-building in Ireland is not a problem. Many of the skills are still here and those that are not can be brought here for the project.
As the government-owned vessel Asgard II has attended many functions, festivals and Tall Ships events all over Europe, in the USA and in Australia. The value to Ireland as an ambassador cannot be counted, but I imagine that it is well in excess of any re-build cost.
The cynic in me says that the government will pocket the insurance money and run but I would dearly love to be wrong.
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