My father, ‘Sam’(Douglas)Koster (ex Sqn. Ldr. RAF (Marine Service)), was navigating officer on the “Shemara” from the later times of the Dockers ownership through into Harry Hyams ownership. During that time the Shemara made a number of Mediterranean trips and one or two to the Caribbean including one where the captain (against my father’s judgement)insisted on a ’short cut’ which resulted in scraping over a reef which cut open part of the forward hull under the waterline. Only by quick action, heading for and running the bow onto a shallow sandy beach, was a sinking avoided. By stuffing mattresses into the fisure they were able to limp to a dry dock on a nearby island and get a temporary repair sufficient for the Shemara to make the return trans-Atlantic trip back to Southampton – I think to Thornycroft’s yard – where a full repair was made. In the 70’s, certainly the late 70’s, the Shemara was kind of permanently berthed in Southampton. Most of the crew were kept on in order to keep the Shemara ’ship shape’ and essentially ready for any trip whims of its owner which actually never happened! I remember my father commuted weekdays (by train)into Southampton from our family home in the New Forest. My father finally retired from Hyams employment around 1980 (he was already 76 by then!.
Were either of you, ‘Sooty’ or Danny Reid connected with the Shemara during my father’s time on board? I am very happy that the Shemara has been saved. Do you know who is the present owner and whhat the intentions are for the Shemara after the refit? It would be great to know.
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June 6, 2011 about Shemara
Hi Bob,
Do you remember my father (’Sam’)?
Julian
December 31, 2010 about Shemara
My father, ‘Sam’(Douglas)Koster (ex Sqn. Ldr. RAF (Marine Service)), was navigating officer on the “Shemara” from the later times of the Dockers ownership through into Harry Hyams ownership. During that time the Shemara made a number of Mediterranean trips and one or two to the Caribbean including one where the captain (against my father’s judgement)insisted on a ’short cut’ which resulted in scraping over a reef which cut open part of the forward hull under the waterline. Only by quick action, heading for and running the bow onto a shallow sandy beach, was a sinking avoided. By stuffing mattresses into the fisure they were able to limp to a dry dock on a nearby island and get a temporary repair sufficient for the Shemara to make the return trans-Atlantic trip back to Southampton – I think to Thornycroft’s yard – where a full repair was made. In the 70’s, certainly the late 70’s, the Shemara was kind of permanently berthed in Southampton. Most of the crew were kept on in order to keep the Shemara ’ship shape’ and essentially ready for any trip whims of its owner which actually never happened! I remember my father commuted weekdays (by train)into Southampton from our family home in the New Forest. My father finally retired from Hyams employment around 1980 (he was already 76 by then!.
Were either of you, ‘Sooty’ or Danny Reid connected with the Shemara during my father’s time on board? I am very happy that the Shemara has been saved. Do you know who is the present owner and whhat the intentions are for the Shemara after the refit? It would be great to know.