Much more than a boat is now gone

SAILING LOSS OF ASGARD II:IT'S RARE enough that such a diverse sport as sailing is unified, and almost invariably it is for a sad occasion. And so it happens that, this week, the loss of Asgard II in the Bay of Biscay yesterday is being felt across Ireland and around the world.

Thankfully, the occasion is not one of grief, for all on-board are reported to be safe, and, if any compensation were needed, that alone bears testimony to the rescue effort.

Already speculation is growing as to the cause of the loss of the Asgard II. Answers may appear in time, but are not for this column within the sports pages of a newspaper.

That's because, for Ireland's sail-training vessel, competitive sport was nowhere close to the top of her agenda. For, when it comes to the essence of sail, Asgard was the de facto standard-bearer for any in this country who proclaim a love of the sea first and foremost.

Her inclusion among the world's fleet of tall ships visiting almost every corner of the globe since her launch in 1981 means her name has become a byword for the spirit of Ireland, embodied by the crew of trainees experiencing the thrill both of adventure and tradition under careful supervision by Asgard's professional crew.

It is this reason, and not her loss, that explains the strength of feeling upon hearing news of her sinking. For gone now is an opportunity for other young people to share in the experiences of life on board such a unique vessel, experiences widely billed as "character-forming" by people best able to make such a claim - the former trainees of Asgard.

Those graduates - 500 a year - and countless others who came in contact with the vessel have lifetime memories of standing-watch, of cooking and cleaning, climbing aloft and furling sails, of being seasick and wet and cold and powerless to change it and yet still happy for the experience at the end of a voyage shared, often starting with strangers but ending as mates.

And out of that experience comes an understanding of the sea and what it can offer, both good and bad, and a choice whether to keep that relationship going long after their time on the Asgard.

Hundreds, if not thousands of Ireland's best-known sailors have served their time on Asgard. For some, it was their first taste of life at sea; others came with the sailing bug ingrained. Any young person aged 16 to 24 could apply for a sought-after place - yacht club membership was not required.

A cynic might remark to the effect that the vessel was insured and, sure, a replacement can also be acquired or built.

But, quite aside from the fact that the skills and expertise that built Asgard and others like her have long since been lost, nothing can replace the unique history that has been built up in this one vessel and the spirit behind it.

And, it should be noted, this is a State programme, and a successful one at that, though perhaps they hid their light from the glare of inspection in case it fell victim to so much of official Ireland's attitude towards matters maritime.

In this regard, the Government's response to the loss of Asgard II will be telling, even in straitened times. Perhaps the Bay of Biscay will return her to life, though salvage in these waters is not a prospect for optimism.

The best that can be hoped for is that the spirit that drove Asgard II to success for so many years will overcome the obstacles that are ahead.