Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on September 28, 2002 at 08:35:08 from 62.252.32.6 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: We Didn't Mean... ODDITIES posted by Ed Kiser on September 21, 2002 at 03:54:50:
The Swallows didn't have any potential salvage claim. The essence of salvage is that the ship should be saved from danger.
This was a calm evening. The only things in any danger were Jim's self esteem and perhaps a little paint.
If the Swallows hadn't been there Jim would have fended off from the black boat as the ebb carried him past and then got some sail on again (or even started the engine) and had another go. He would have been up to half an hour later onto the mooring and he was already very tired so the help he received was obviously very welcome.
With a mooring on the same river I have to say that I personally keep some sail up until the mooring is on board. It risks getting mud on the sails, but perhaps Ransome has conditioned me from childhood to avoid this particular predicament.