on a shattered dream.

Not his own. Rather, that of tragic solo yachtswoman Miss Anita Page.

After Miss Page's dream of sailing round the world foundered on Bermuda's rocks in October, Mr. Kemp turned into the Good Samaritan.

The Southampton boater launched a virtual one-man crusade to recover something from the heartbreak.

And it meant anything he found from the wreck of the $100,000 sloop Sparrow he sent back to Miss Page.

Thieves have, however, dealt a blow to his efforts.

They stole the yacht's engine and sails -- prompting Mr. Kemp to appeal through The Royal Gazette for the items to be returned.

Mr. Kemp's salvage operation has earned him widespread admiration.

"Royle Kemp has shown the true Bermudian spirit. He deserves to be praised for all his actions in helping the girl,'' said Container Ship Management executive and Keep Bermuda Beautiful president Mr. Barry Brewer.

It was at the end of October Miss Page's 35-foot yacht hit rocks near Sonesta Beach.

She had fallen asleep two weeks into her voyage following a pounding from Hurricane Frances.

The 41-year-old Florida sailing teacher, who had left New York on October 14, swam to safety, but her uninsured vessel was smashed to pieces by the waves.

The ordeal left her with cracked ribs, and a broken dream.

Divers Mr. Mike Maple Waller, of South Side Scuba, and Mr. Tony Stewart managed to bring up clothes, tinned food, compasses and a life raft.

Since then, most of the salvage work has been done by Mr. Kemp, of Seymour Farm Road.

He also decided to make Miss Page a special gift -- a cedar carving of a longtail mounted on a plaque.

"I just thought it would be something nice for her. She lost her sparrow and she could gain a longtail,'' he said in the aftermath of the disaster.

The Royal Gazette has been unable to contact Mr. Kemp since over his salvage efforts.

But Mr. Brewer was full of praise for the spirited boater.

He also said he believed Sparrow , which insurers refused to cover, could have been saved if Miss Page had not been injured.

"It could have been salvaged earlier, but she did not know anybody on the Island. It was left, and battered by the sea on the rocks. We all felt sorry for her because she had everything tied up in that boat.

"We originally wanted to help her get some money together to get another.'' Mr. Brewer said Mr. Kemp had been to Sonesta almost every day to pick debris up off the beach, or strip the yacht of bits he could send back.

"Early on someone stole the engine and a bag of sails. He has sent a letter to The Royal Gazette asking for them to be returned.

"He has really taken it upon himself to help this lady. He has sent back a lot of things he has managed to salvage.

"We were all disappointed we could not have helped her earlier on because the yacht could have been salvaged. The whole episode could have turned out better.'' Miss Page, who has already proved her sailing prowess with a solo trip to Europe, could not be reached for comment.