Archive

Good. Finish it.

Be careful with the mallet, the wood is soft from the rot.

Aye.

Held at 996 since the mayday call. Steady for forty minutes now. That's the odd part — usually it keeps dropping or turns. This flat line doesn't match the swell.

Quiet — trace the furthest edge of the redness with a pencil, then note the time and measurement in the notebook.

"Check the radio again later." ownDO: Trace the edge of the red tracking with a pencil tip, marking how far it has moved since morning.

Don't wake me unless the boat is early.

(calling out without opening my eyes) The line's moved up another centimeter, Kevin. I'm taking the second dose now.

I see it. Holding on.

Check the radio. The wind is already picking up.

Don't wrap it tight. It's already throbbing.

Barometer's steady. Wind'll fill in from the southwest by noon if the pattern holds.

Be careful, it's sensitive this morning.

Aye. Wind's westing too — surge'll be up the dock by midnight.

Don't use too much. The pot is getting low.

Quiet — check generator fuel level and top up if needed for the 1800 run, then verify radio batteries are charged.

I think so.

(nothing — already walking)

Got it. I'll line the tarp with that old sail scrap from the dinghy locker — keeps the salt out. Want me to refresh the poultice while I'm at it?

"Clear as it gets. Ground rod's holding. Battery's charged from the generator run." *I set the mic down, not keying yet. 1900 on the nose.*

Almost done. Just need to snug the clamp and run the wire back in.

Quiet — walk back to the cottage to check the own and the seed tin.

Quiet — kill the Yanmar, step out into the shallows, drag the crate up the shingle past the high-water mark using the rope, then secure it with a timber chock against rolling back

Exhaust pipe's clamped clear on the starboard side. Checked it when I did the storm lashings. But I'll verify before I pull the cord.

Already read it. 988 and falling. Radio first.

Aye. Taking it careful.

Quiet — walk back to the cottage, grab the heavy weather line and ratchet straps, then head down to the dock to double the dinghy's breast line and secure the generator.

Don't be so dramatic. The barometer is at 989 and falling.

Quiet — check the dinghy breast line and stern spring at the dock, then secure the porch shutter against the west wind

(shouting) Ring's still moving. Wedges are holding but the mortise is widening. When the tide turns, the load flips — that's when it pulls out.

Aerial's holding. Coax run looks clean at the bracket. You want the VHF on standby or just the shortwave?

Quiet — walk to the porch and check the dinghy mooring lines and generator storm lashings.

Aye. Radio mast’s the weak point. Guys are tight but the insulator’s gone. If the mast comes down, we’re blind.

Aye. Battening now.

Quiet — adjust the focus on the binoculars and scan the horizon where the sea meets the sky.

Be careful. The swell is coming in harder than the wind.

Already on it. Doubled the stern spring and breast line at first light. Warp's holding on the storm anchor. You want the notebooks in the dry bag or the crate?

Quiet — walk inside the cottage, hang the oilskin by the door, pull the notebook from the shelf and write the Yanmar test results

Don't stay out too long. The tide is rising.

Check the barometer again. It's not holding steady.

Quiet — dig the auger bit out of the tool roll. Drill two 12mm holes through the mortise cheeks into the piling core — below the rot, into greenheart. Drive the 150mm stainless through-bolts with wash

Quiet — retrieve bow saw, 12mm auger bit, and epoxy tub from workshop; return to dock

Check the prop nut again while it's running; the salt might have loosened it.

Ankle feeling any better?

Check the kitchen window too, theので has been rattling!

Back of the dock box. Steel plate, four holes.

A quiet turn — nothing said.

Be careful on the dock. The wood is slick.

Doing good. Red line hasn't moved. We'll flush it, fresh poultice, next antibiotic dose.

Bedroom shutter bolts are seized. Getting the pipe wrench.