HEARING how a steamship was restored captivated the audience during the lunchtime session of the Swindon Festival of Literature yesterday.

Archaeologist and maritime explorer Meriel Larken spoke about the Yavari, which features in her book The Ship, The Lady And The Lake, at the Arts Centre.

The steamship currently sails on Lake Titicaca, but in 1862 she was taken to bits, shipped to South America, her thousands of parts carried up the Andes, and reassembled 12,500ft above sea level.

For more than 100 years, she sailed up and down the world’s highest navigable waterways but was then retired to rot until Meriel found the ship in 1985.

“As soon as I saw her I was completely captivated by this Victorian jewel. She has completely captivated me and it has taken 25 years of my life,” she said.

“It gave me huge pleasure to write the book, to tell the tale and to thank the people who have helped me over the many years. There have been a lot of people who have contributed to the effort. I hope that if you haven’t visited her you will.”

The Yavari is moored in the bay of Puno on the north west shore of Lake Titicaca.

For more information about the ship visit www.yavari.org.

– EMMA DUNN