Shero! LIZZIE GARNHAM sails a Nauticat 38 called Minerva which was built in Finland in 1986 and purchased nine years ago. Lizzie is aged in her late 60s and shares her ‘Shero’ story here… Lew and I were on board our Nauticat 38 ketch Minerva enjoying a sail near the entrance of Storm Bay, Tasmania, when, I saw the mainsail drop down on to our deck. I called out to Lew. It looked as if the clip on the halyard had failed. Lew and I knew that it would not be easy for me to winch him to the top of the mast to retrieve the halyard so he commented that we would have to leave it until we reached our destination. I knew Lew was very upset but then I’m TERRIFIED of all heights... I can’t even use an overpass across a highway! ‘I’ll retrieve the halyard Lew.’
As Lew was easing me down I suddenly called out, ‘STOP!’ I reached into my pocket and managed to find and turn on my iPhone. I held the phone out in front of me, lens pointed down, and I heard the click. I was hoping my photo would let me relive my experience. I wanted to see the view that I personally could not take in from the top of the mast. Lew lowered me down quickly as I couldn’t cope with the tension any more. As I landed on the deck I cried with shock but then when I saw my photo I was ecstatic! I captured the wake around the boat, my dangling feet, Lew looking up at me and the whole boat in the photo as well. I am still so very excited and proud of my achievement and even though I’m still terrified of heights, I would help out again.
‘Are you sure?’ ‘Yes, I’ll do it.’
It seemed like only minutes for the canvas bosun’s chair to be ready. I took a very deep breath; my heart was pounding hard. I knew what to do. I had to focus on the halyard above and not what was going on below me. When I was comfortably seated Lew started to winch me up while I hugged the mast like a koala. I had to let go a few times as the lights and the spreader were in the way. I was swinging from side to side but I was relieved when I had my koala-clutch again. I reached the top! With the halyard tied around my wrist I was ready to descend.
SisterShip 21