Sailing through cancer: Ian Rankin's luminous Christmas yacht
Ian Rankin, 82, from Bearsden, Scotland, built a 9-metre yacht in his garden last year. The man, who is suffering from colon cancer, had one goal: to bring joy to people during the Christmas season.
According to "Bild," the yacht built by Ian Rankin has a 10-metre mast adorned with hundreds of Christmas lights, attracting the attention of passersby. In an interview with the BBC, Rankin admitted that he often hears that his creation "brings a smile to the face" of viewers. One neighbour even said the yacht brightened her Christmas season.
For Ian himself, building the yacht was a form of therapy. Thanks to this project, the man struggling with colon cancer had a reason to "get up in the morning and do something." Rankin, who is an avid sailor, revealed that he was inspired to create the gigantic yacht by a passerby who, upon seeing a small boat model in the 82-year-old's garden, said that the sight made him happy. Rankin decided to do something on a larger scale.
Local children call this yacht the "boat in the sky," because it has a tall mast and stands on an elevation. Rankin hopes to show young people that even when they are old or sick, they can create amazing things.
Rankin encourages people who felt "cheered up" on the yacht's deck to donate to the Bearsden Christmas yacht for the Beatson Cancer Charity. He chose this organization for a reason. "The charity has done a tremendous amount for my family," he admitted in an interview with the BBC.
People have taken time and effort and money in tough economic times to donate to the cause - and that cheers me up no end, he emphasized.
The yacht has a permanent place in Ian's garden
The yacht now has a permanent place in Ian's garden. "It's beautiful. I love looking at it," the 82-year-old said. "It gives me pleasure, and I hope it gives other people pleasure," he added.
After the holidays, Rankin plans to transform the yacht into a "man cave," where he can return to building his small boat models.
