From Ted and Melody Morgan-Busher.
YOUR readers may well be aware of the incident on 23 July, when our vessel Amazon (having ‘Dressed for the Day’ to celebrate the Royal birth, as your photographer recorded) lay down in the harbour at Gorey for the afternoon tide.
We had just gone ashore for a drive around the Island with local friends, believing that Amazon had settled safely for the tide. After several days taking the ground comfortably she surprised us all (especially the crew member onboard) by lying down away from the jetty as the tide ebbed.
Unfortunately, as we had left some scuttles (or ‘portholes’) in the hull open for ventilation, a considerable quantity of water then got below as Amazon settled gently onto her side; this water had to be pumped out by us before we could be sure that she was undamaged and that she would right herself on the incoming tide.
It was therefore a sensible precaution to request support so that airbags were provided to ensure that Amazon would rise on the next tide even if the hull was damaged, or if we could not remove all of the water in time. Fortunately this strong old hull seems to have survived relatively unscathed and all went smoothly. The long unpleasant process of clearing up, throwing away, cleaning, washing and drying still continues, however!
The efficient, quietly professional and timely response from Jersey Coastguard, Jersey Harbours and Transport and Technical Services last Tuesday was most impressive. Similarly, the help offered spontaneously by the Gorey fishermen was very much appreciated and a strong testament to the continuing seafaring traditions of the Island. Thanks again to those involved for your concern, skill and support at a trying time.
Amazon remains quite enchanted by Jersey and her people, as do we. We are an ordinary family keeping alive a truly extraordinary, unique historic ship; we have felt a warmth of welcome and compassion in Jersey that has been both heartwarming and rather humbling. Indeed, a considerable number of islanders have been kind enough to visit Gorey Pier to offer us their good wishes.
A particularly touching example of Islanders’ concern was the kind lady who spoke to me on Tuesday evening to tell me that she and all the other venerable residents of her care home, which overlooks Gorey Harbour, had been watching the afternoon’s events and were delighted to see Amazon righted.
Jersey and her people are special – long may it remain so!
