Fluke season is off to a rough start. It's the forth day in and today there was tragedy in Menemsha Bite, MVI. The Robert C went down. Captain Dougie was pulled from the water and he is reported to be safe. Dave told me this when he phoned from the island this evening. It seems two boats collided and the Robert C went down in minutes. Dave said he didn't see it, but heard the Coast Guard on the radio. Six or seven boats were fishing the bite.  Dave said he's not sure how it happened. Like so many of the boats, Dougie fishes alone. As Dave is fond of saying, "Too much work for one man but not enough money for two." Fishing alone is how most of the guys manage, so I can see how these things can happen. The other boat, the Peddler is safe, but most likely out of commission. Capt. Walter and Capt. Dougie are old hands at fishing, so this is a terrible accident that neither could have imagined. The  Robert C was a beauty, I don't know her details, but she looked like a Stonington Dragger. She was old, wooden, heavy planked and currently hailed from New Bedford. She was a beautiful old girl. The men are safe and that really is all that matters in the long run. Say a prayer for our men and women at sea. Remember our fishermen. And don't forget to give thanks.

Update - June 2015

After much hard work, long hours, and an inpouring of money the Richard & Arnold is back to work. Dave says she's better than ever. The engine: a complete overhaul done by RCS Diesel Service in Ludlow MA has put the boat on a smooth coarse. It is not using oil, doesn't smoke, and has more power. I can't say enough about the efforts at RCS, great mechanics, all business, and fair prices. Thanks to Mike Miner and all the men who worked on it.
The new wheelhouse was a challenge. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates in a small space after thirty plus years, but on a boat it's all necessary, well most of it. It took months to replace everything from the old wheelhouse. We knew the wheelhouse needed changing when one day, out at sea, Dave showed me how the old house was moving. Literally swaying on its foundation. So glad to have the new one in place, bolted and fiberglassed in.  Everything had to come out of the old house and either be refitted to the new one or new equipment had to be purchased. All the important electronics are back in place, radar, depth sounder. The steering and autopilot are working. Hydraulics up to speed. Radios, computer, tracking device, antennas, have been rewired in. Safety equipment, deck lights, EPIRB in good working order. Only the odds and ends left to do, things like shelves for tools, hooks to hang oil-gear and a soft seat for the mate (that would be me) will all be done as we go along, because  now the fishing begins and when Dave is fishing there's not much time left to do anything else.
Dave took the boat to Woods Hole last month for squid, but he got a late start due to the massive amount of work to the wheelhouse, and the squid didn't come in jumbo numbers so he came back to Provincetown Harbor. He brought aboard a thousand pounds of lead for needed weight in the bilge. He then changed nets and end-for-ended the wire on the winches. He left for Martha's Vineyard last Tuesday to fish for Fluke. Now we hope for a good season to put us in shape for travel this winter. The boat is ready, Dave is looking forward to taking her south. I'm excited, nervous, worried, and making lists of a million things that need to be done before I can cut the ties to land. Things like auto pay of bills. What do I do with all my house plants? What clothing should I bring, how much linens, blankets, etc? How much food can I store? Yes it is exciting, but the idea of leaving my grandkids is almost heartbreaking. My feeling is that everyone will survive one winter without me. I'll keep up with kids on face-time. And I should have more time to write. Right?