Sir, - John Kearon (January 10th) is concerned that the restoration of Asgard as an active sailing vessel, as distinct from its conservation as a dry-land exhibit, will entail the destruction of the original material of the 1905-built vessel to the point where its "originality is reduced or compromised". This is not an unreasonable concern, but it ignores the fact that all wooden sailing vessels, from the moment they first meet wind and wave, are vulnerable to some degree of organic destruction, a lot of wear and tear, and the myriad hazards of the sea.
That is why, through generations of craft, they have always required constant repair, and often extensive parts replacement - an expensive, time-consuming and highly skilled process. This explains why nowadays most boat-owners prefer fibreglass.
Asgard is nearly 100 years old now, which of itself takes a toll. She was also parked in Kilmainham Jail for the past 30 years, suffering a lot of "destruction" by inertia and neglect. Now, thankfully, due to the campaigning efforts of Tim Magennis and his Asgard Restoration Committee and the enlightened attitudes of the Ministers Michael Smith and Sile de Valera, this wonderful yacht, designed by the famous Norwegian boat builder, Colin Archer, will sail again.
The difficulty for the restorers of Asgard is that they must telescope 30 years of what should have been the routine annual maintenance of Erskine and Molly Childers' yacht into a comprehensive, once-off refit. Nobody would suggest that the routine replacement of a damaged or rotten keel, of a plank, rib, spar or deck would compromise the "uniqueness or historical relevance" of Asgard. The scale of the restoration is simply the accretion of 30 years of neglect which must now be made good in one big repair job.
We should note that the first significant destruction of the original material of Asgard was performed by the Childers themselves when they ripped out the cabin furnishings to make room for armaments during what has become known as the Howth gun-running. So much for compromising historic relevance!
John Kearon may be happy to see Asgard as a static display in a well ordered room. He is entitled to his opinion. Frankly, I think the public are entitled to see Asgard as Erskine and Molly knew her and loved her - as a yacht in full sail on the sea. - Yours, etc.,
John Caden, York Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.