The wooden boat you see above is called Norwester and is 89 years old. In recent days it had a terrible accident running aground in some unreported shoals in the San Juan Islands, Washington state, USA, and now it is in danger of sinking. Some of the greatest American movie stars from Orson Wells to Betty Davis fio to Orson Wells have passed on board. The foundation that runs it is now doing everything to try to save it.
Norwester, this historic yacht is in danger of sinking
Norwester’s current owners are named Rick and Jackie Rutherford and purchased the boat three years ago. An old wooden yacht, however, is very expensive to maintain, so the couple decided to charter the yacht for two reasons: to maintain the boat and at the same time to raise funds for cancer research in memory of Jackie’s mother, who had lost her battle with the disease.
On April 17, the last test trip left to navigate the region and to do some filming for a promotional video. The night before, their chart plotter was updated and there should have been no obstacles on their route. Unfortunately, the boat hit shoals and ran aground with extensive damage to the hull. Estimates say that merely releasing it will cost about $50,000 to $250,000. Then it will take $1.5 million to completely repair the boat and restore it to its original glory.
“We didn’t feel,” Jackie says, “as if the boat was ours, we always felt that we were her janitors. We will do everything we can to bring her back.”
The Norwester had recently been restored, ready to offer visitors to Washington state’s San Juan Islands a charter experience. According to the Norwester Foundation statement, all net proceeds were to be donated John Wayne Foundation, which funds treatment, education and support for families affected by cancer.
Norwester, the history of the boat
Also reported by the Norwester Foundation, the boat was built in 1932 in Winthrop, Massachusetts and was also John Wayne’s first boat. The Norwester was later purchased by Charles Gilbert, a printer of stock certificates for Wall Street. During World War II it served as a patrolman before being purchased by Boo Roos, the manager of many of Hollywood’s top stars in the 1940s, including John Wayne.
The story goes that John Wayne always used the boat he later agreed to buy the Norwester and use with family and friends until the 1960s, before buying Wild Goose. Norwester then returned to the Roos family who used it in the decades to come. Log books show a virtual “who’s who” of actors from Hollywood’s Golden Age who sailed aboard the Norwester.
Norwester’s fate now
The boat’s insurance company refuses to date to pay for the removal, despite the fact that Norwester has a $1,000,000 pollution policy that covers the removal. A fundraiser has started to save this piece of history (click here to read more). What will be the fate of this lady of the sea?
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