As many of you know, she will not see another season. She's old and very tired, and she is now being tugged to a dry dock for dismantling and scrapping.
I am heartbroken. I first learned to drive her when I was 14. Everytime I went with Papa to her I worked very hard on her. I worked on the deck and ran the reel, I cooked, I cleaned, I did laundry, I made the crews' beds, I went into the bilge to check the pumps because I am small and I went down into the battery hold to check for corrosion and to test the batteries. I learned of the engines and how to look for troubles like leaks and inequal power. I crawled all over her for to look for hull compromises, I went under the recirculating holds to look for leaks and to check and test the pumps, I climbed the remaining mast to check for cracks, I climbed up to the antennas to check them and learned to calibrate some of the electronics in the wheelhouse like the GPS, weather radar, tracking system, radio and I checked the EPIRB. I tested the alarms, made sure all 45 survival suits were where they should be, I wound very much rope and made sure the life rings were in place, I checked all 58 fire extinguishers, and when I ran out of things to do, Papa would either put me on the deck with the deck crew or make me do very many things over again.
I worked 12 hours and I had 8 hours off for sleep then another 12 hours, etc. Papa had a tiny bunk aside of the wheelhouse and I was allowed to sleep on the floor there.
I so love her. I had some ideas of what to do with some things of her. She has beautiful teak wood, and when I talked to Papa tonight after asking a member here of this, he is saving this teak wood for two boxes for his and Mamma's remains and much more for me. They want to be cremated and put to sea, and they loved this idea. I also don't have a jewelry box and so I wanted wood for this for to pass to my children. There are pewter handles on the cabinets of her but the extra cabinets were thrown away and there is a box full of these pewter handles in our Constanta home. I could make a medallion for Mamma and something for Papa of this pewter and put a pewter plaque upon my jewelry box.
I could use the extra pewter for something for my children.
I will also make a book of all these memories.I'll find all the photos I can and if I can, I'll ask Papa to take many pictures, even of the bilge and where I had to go. I'll talk to the crew next summer and record all their memories, along with Mamma and Papa's memories. I'll dedicate this book to my parents and the crew, and I'll also include my memories. I want this book to be on the new Catina, for she will carry on this legacy.
I'm trying to be practical but to be honest, I am very, very sad. She was such a good ship and I will miss her.
Sail on, Catina.
With love,
~Cat
I am heartbroken. I first learned to drive her when I was 14. Everytime I went with Papa to her I worked very hard on her. I worked on the deck and ran the reel, I cooked, I cleaned, I did laundry, I made the crews' beds, I went into the bilge to check the pumps because I am small and I went down into the battery hold to check for corrosion and to test the batteries. I learned of the engines and how to look for troubles like leaks and inequal power. I crawled all over her for to look for hull compromises, I went under the recirculating holds to look for leaks and to check and test the pumps, I climbed the remaining mast to check for cracks, I climbed up to the antennas to check them and learned to calibrate some of the electronics in the wheelhouse like the GPS, weather radar, tracking system, radio and I checked the EPIRB. I tested the alarms, made sure all 45 survival suits were where they should be, I wound very much rope and made sure the life rings were in place, I checked all 58 fire extinguishers, and when I ran out of things to do, Papa would either put me on the deck with the deck crew or make me do very many things over again.
I worked 12 hours and I had 8 hours off for sleep then another 12 hours, etc. Papa had a tiny bunk aside of the wheelhouse and I was allowed to sleep on the floor there.
I so love her. I had some ideas of what to do with some things of her. She has beautiful teak wood, and when I talked to Papa tonight after asking a member here of this, he is saving this teak wood for two boxes for his and Mamma's remains and much more for me. They want to be cremated and put to sea, and they loved this idea. I also don't have a jewelry box and so I wanted wood for this for to pass to my children. There are pewter handles on the cabinets of her but the extra cabinets were thrown away and there is a box full of these pewter handles in our Constanta home. I could make a medallion for Mamma and something for Papa of this pewter and put a pewter plaque upon my jewelry box.
I could use the extra pewter for something for my children.
I will also make a book of all these memories.I'll find all the photos I can and if I can, I'll ask Papa to take many pictures, even of the bilge and where I had to go. I'll talk to the crew next summer and record all their memories, along with Mamma and Papa's memories. I'll dedicate this book to my parents and the crew, and I'll also include my memories. I want this book to be on the new Catina, for she will carry on this legacy.
I'm trying to be practical but to be honest, I am very, very sad. She was such a good ship and I will miss her.
Sail on, Catina.
With love,
~Cat
What a wonderful story and plans you have. I'm glad you will be able to save and re-use some of the boat's materials. 
