William Wraith

From: William Wraith

Sent: Friday, June 25, 1999 10:50 AM

To: 'James Legere'

Cc: 'paul@shawandtenney.com'; 'Michael Projansky (E-mail)'

Subject: RE: Lost Oar

Dear Jim,

Thanks for your quick reply. I was hoping to hear the yarn of how the oar was found. You are very kind to go to the trouble to ship me the oar. I can't tell you how much I will enjoy putting the oar back on the P. Ellen. I am planning to fulfill my obligation when we return to Nova Scotia next year. I hope to bring the boat up toward Halifax from Nantucket, as I did this year. It would be a great time to stop in St. Margaret's Bay for a visit. We passed by St. Margaret's Bay sailing from Deep Cove in Mahone Bay to Rogue's Roost. Little did we know that the oar was making it into St. Margaret's Bay as we were travelling just outside along the buoys.

I can't promise you that I won't have a second set of oars on board to present to you in person when we make it to St. Margaret's Bay, however.

I am about to take my family to Nantucket, where we have a summer house. We will be there for the next two months, so I think this would be the best place to ship the oar.

I will be there as of June 27th in the afternoon. If you should ever be in Nantucket, please come and visit.

Thanks again,

Bill Wraith

P.S. I would still like to pay for shipping. Let me know and I will send you a check to cover these charges.

-----Original Message-----

From: James Legere [SMTP:lighthouse@ns.sympatico.ca]

Sent: Thursday, June 24, 1999 10:09 PM

To: William Wraith

Cc: paul@shawandtenney.com

Subject: Lost Oar

Dear Bill,

I am so glad to be in contact with you; this has turned into quite a

fine little yarn! First let me tell you about the oar, which I hope is

indeed your missing one...

We were sailing on our home waters of St. Margaret's Bay in our

Albin Vega ALCYON when my wife spied the oar. Always keen to

practice our overboard drill (we sail with our two children) we gybed

and rounded up to the 'casualty'. Once along side the oar we began

to appreciate what a pretty piece we'd found. Sue got it with the

boat hook and, once aboard, I recognized the Shaw & Tenney

stamp. (Although I sail a plastic boat, I am a keen reader of

WoodenBoat magazine...) We brought it home and briefly

considered using it for some sort of decor touch, but quickly

concurred that it really belonged in an oar lock. I placed an ad in

our local rag - The Masthead News - describing the oar in enough

detail that the owner would know it, but kept the maker's marque to

myself for verification. Then I figured I'd make inquiries about getting

a mate, just in case it went unclaimed. Thanks to Paul at Shaw &

Tenney, the rest we know...

The oar has a number of small breaks in the varnish and some

minor abrasions, consistent with having gone ashore. I'm happy to

report that the wood is not in the least stained and there is nothing

some varnish on the wood and some oil on the leather won't cure.

It would give my wife and I great pleasure to see the oar back in its

proper oar lock. Please advise me how to ship it to you and I will

be pleased to take care of the arrangements. As to your kind offer,

please retain the third oar "just in case" and consider that your

only obligation to us is that you visit us the next time you are in our

home waters of St.Margaret's Bay. We have a guest mooring

suitable for CHAOS. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Jim Legere & Sue Whitehouse

lighthouse@ns.sympatico.ca