Time and busy winds moving quickly as Northeasters come in cycles. The winter winds have been wicked this past month. The boat remains at the wharf, vulnerable. We are hoping the winds leave her undamaged. So far, so good.  We are transitioning, hoping to have the engine back in the boat before Christmas, then the real work begins for Dave. He's already put new fuel tanks in. What a job. Thanks to Mike Winkler, Jon Salvador, Marcey's Oil, and Wesley Medieros, we are off to a good start.  RC Motors is completing the engine and we are hoping for a Christmas present, having the engine back in place will be wonderful. In the meantime we find surprises everywhere. Dave is using space from the previous tanks which were much larger, for the hydraulic tank, he's installing it now. We will be carrying 500 gallons of diesel fuel. Sometime in the coming year we are hoping to rig the boat with sails, but one thing at a time, engine first.  We need the engine for fishing, but perhaps we can use sails for transitioning, for efficiency. I know we both love to sail, so its something we are looking forward to trying.

Transitions, land and sea, can have strange effects on the body. The inner ear can give you sea-sickness. When everything is moving, the feeling can causes other types of illusions and body distortion. On a  trip last September from Martha's Vineyard to Provincetown I had an unusual experience, at least I wasn't fearful of the feelings that I felt that day. Now, I think I know why old sailors call the boat 'her', as if it were alive.  I was sitting on fish boxes watching and listening as the world pass under, above and beside me. I watched the water as it undulated, peaked, cupped, crested, and waved. The constant motion caused an optical illusions, for what else could I call it. When I looked from the sea to the railings, the wooden structure that caps the sides of the boat, the wood became alive. As I looked at the Richard & Arnold, I could see the wood in motion. The wood was moving, swirling, swinging like a body dancing. It appeared as if the molecules in the wood were moving together as part of the world. I watched what shouldn't be moving - move. Not like the whole boat was wobbling or that the vessel's structure was shaking, more like the planks that made up the boat were still alive. It has got to be one of the strangest experiences I've had while out on the water and I've had a few. The illusion was most likely optical, but perhaps it was my overactive imagination. Whatever the cause, she came alive to me.

The Richard & Arnold is waiting patiently. She's doing just fine.

Heading in the right direction

We're heading in the right direction again. After a couple of weeks of "Oh M,G. The doctor said what?" Not only has it been awfully cold, but we spent hours in the E.R. then an overnight in Boston hospital only to be told that once every 10 or so years they see someone like Dave. Can't explain it, but looks like you're going to live. Our medical event has put life and death in perspective and now we can get back to where we were before all this medical broo-ha began. Even with the bitter cold, the engine is back in the boat. Shelves have been built, fuel tanks installed, batteries in place, hydraulic tank in place. Now fuel lines, hydraulic lines, and about a million other things and then the boat will be moving on her own again. I know for a fact that this will be the last in a long line of updates and overhauls to our dear Richard & Arnold. The new wheelhouse seems much bigger, although it is only six inches bigger on each side. I wish I could help out with the work, but Dave said I should just keep writing. He's doing all the work so that he can again go fishing this spring and summer to pay for next winter. In the fall we have plans for a trip south. It will be the reward for all the effort. I'm so proud of the work that's been done to the boat to preserve her. She's almost 90 years old and the way she's been maintained she'll last another 90 years. Hopefully she will have someone like Dave to take care of her. We are working to make it possible to take the boat on a trip. Heading south next fall to see friends and meet new ones. We have a goal, a destination and the willpower. I know I have at least one more adventure in me and I know Dave wants to have one winter when he won't have to shovel snow.
My latest book is just about done, I'm on the fourth rewrite. It has been professionally edited and now I move toward publication. I'll do the same as I did for "Nautical Twilight". I'm too old to wait for an agent or publisher to find me. I'll put it out there and hope for the best, just like we are doing with the boat.  Stay warm everyone, Fair winds and God Speed.
I am pasting part of the cover for the book, The Fishermen's Ball. Let me know what you think.

Thank you to our Veterans for their service to our country. Thank you for helping to bring freedom and peace to those who do not understand the joy of it. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we may live in this beautiful place we call America. You deserve more than one day of recognition, you deserve thanks everyday.

Much is happening around the Richard & Arnold.


This past week was a doozie, but thanks to Mike Winkler is turned out to be exciting and without difficulty. The old wheelhouse came off the boat. What a state it was in! I understand it was built by Alfred Silva when he owned the boat back in the 1950's.  He's the same man who did the beautiful model fishing boats that were on display at the Pilgrim Monument Museum last year. Then the Detroit 871 came out and went for a truck ride to Springfield. On the way to the mechanics we went through a snow storm in Middleboro / Taunton area, what a surprise, I was expecting sun after we crossed the bridge. The new wheelhouse is on the boat, again our thanks go to Mike Winkler. Dave is now working on the fuel tanks. We will most likely need to replace them while the engine is out, but here is another issue we didn't put into the budget. I will keep the faith and help where I can, but it looks like this job falls squarely on Dave's shoulders. The engine will be out of the boat for a few weeks, then the real work begins. Pumps, wires, exhaust, electric, and all the other things that are attached to the engine. To me its a real puzzle, but with a bit of inspiration, faith and money, it will be done.








What follows is a summery or synopsis of the book I have been working on. Let me know what you think. The manuscript, 57000 words, is looking for a publisher, or I'll do it myself, whichever comes first. Thanks to all my friends for their support and kind words for my first book, Nautical Twilight. Of coarse there is fishing in this one as well, but that is not the main theme. The Fishermen's Ball is  mystery and murder, fiction and history and I hope you will enjoy it.


The Fishermen's Ball. 

Judith J. Dutra        Fiction / Mystery

Alonzo Rodrequis jumps ship in Provincetown Harbor and swims for his life. He is rescued and taken in by the Diogo family who live behind the family's ship chandlery. The stranger is given a job on a fishing boat, Fanny Parnell, owned by Davy Souza. Meanwhile the Provincetown Fishermen's Association wants to raise money for the victims of the hurricane of September 21, 1938 by holding a big dance. Manny Diogo volunteers for the advertising committee, attending meetings a with town leaders, businessmen and fishermen. A few weeks pass and Davy learns that Alonzo has been seeing his childhood friend and love interest, Mary Diogo. They have words and Davy tells Alonzo to find a job on another fishing boat. When Alonzo is found dead, Provincetown Police Chief James Crowley find himself on his first murder investigation. Davy is a prime suspect. And then a gold coin, a gift from Alonzo to Mary Diogo is discovered. Unfortunately, Mary does not tell the complete truth about Alonzo or the coin and puts herself in grave danger. There is a second coin and when Jimmy-the-fish-buyer is found dead in his office Chief Crowley reaches out to the state police for help.
The murderer is hiding in plane sight, insulated in the community, a committee member for the fishermen's ball. He has plans for himself and will stop at nothing, for he is a smuggler, a traitor and a murderer. During the night of the ball, Mary, a loose end, is whisked away to a waiting boat. A race to save her ensues. Davy sees what is happening to Mary and chases after the car heading for Railroad Wharf. Chief Crowley has been watching Davy and orders his patrolman to get the car and head up the wharf after him The chief heads in the opposite direction to where a group of well armed men have been waiting to catch smugglers in the act of  an offshore rendezvous. Davy is shot while trying to take over the trawler. Mary saves him from being thrown overboard by striking the murder on the back with a boat hook. The man is pitched into the sea with the role of the vessel just as the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Morrill appears and everyone witnesses the man lose his balance, hit the rail and disappear into the water. Davy is taken away on the cutter while onboard the confiscated vessel we learn that securing our shores and the murder of Alonzo are connected through subterfuge, German immigrants, and Prussian gold treasure.

A new chapter is developing in the long journey of the Richard & Arnold. The original boat was built by Casey's Boat Yard in Fairhaven, MA between 1924 and 1927. She's come a long way, caught millions of pounds of fish and has never lost a man. We are proud of the old thing. And now the latest in the line of rebuilds, restorations, and restructuring has commenced. The project has begun and there is no turning back. A new wheelhouse has been built, fiberglassed and now sits in the garage waiting to replace the old one. The one that is being removed has been there longer than we've owned the boat (32 years). Last time I was out fishing with Dave he showed me how the small house was moving. (and it shouldn't be moving)  It was visibly loose as the boat rolled in the sea.  Since the old house has to come off, leaving a gaping hole over the engine, we might as well take out the engine and send it out for a major overhaul. It's been a faithful 871 Detroit for a long, long time, but she's wore out, tired and starting to belch smoke. Before the new wheelhouse is placed on the boat, the old wheelhouse will come off,  the old engine will come out and be shipped to Springfield for complete makeover. While it's gone Dave intends to replace the fuel tanks (no sense not doing it while we can) then when the engine goes back into the boat - the new wheel house can be put over it. Sounds complicated and it is. We'll need a crane, a truck or trailer to carry the 5000 lb. engine, lots of goop to clean up with and faith. Dave is in the process of disconnecting everything that is attached to the engine.  I'm amazed by what needs to come off: muffler, hydraulics, batteries, wires, pumps, hoses and other stuff I'm not sure of. He comes home tired, with grease on his hands, and a smile on his face. Dave tells me it is heart surgery for the old girl, a little dangerous, but she'll be like new and we won't have to worry about a breakdown while he's fishing. This is a must do project, we really have no choice.  Now that the Richard & Arnold has a new exoskeleton of fiberglass and a new foc'sle it's time to rebuild the engine and engine room.  The foc'sle is really nice down below. I'll find pictures to add to this site so you can see how comfy she is now.  I hope we get to use it for motor sailing, our winnebego on the water, a retirement of sorts, traveling the only way we know how, by water. She'll be ready. I just hope that I can still climb the ladder when the boat is finally finished. We'll face this challenge as we have so many before, head on. I remember the winter Dave rebuilt the decks. He put the boat on the mooring, built a redneck building of blue plastic around it and replaced all the deck beams, sistered ribs and lay new plywood over it all.  Then in the spring when the weather warmed he put fiberglass and cloth over it. That was many years ago. My son Jackson was about 16 years old at the time and helped with that project. He often wondered why he couldn't just hang out with his friends. He's a fine carpenter and a great house builder now. Maybe some of that boat building paid off.  How time flies when your having fun. The Richard & Arnold has come a long way and has a long way to go. She's still our baby. She's going to be better than new and we might get to take that trip with her after all.  

Randy Moniz has left the fishing grounds for the last time and crossed the bar. "Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark. For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place, the flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face, when I have crossed the bar." Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Randy was a terrific fisherman. Everyone who fishes will be saddened by the news.  He was larger than life, big in body and in spirit. His stories made you laugh out loud.  His last boat the LUAL was named for his mom and dad, I believe. He also owned and fished the Resolute for a number of years. He kept the boat in New Bedford but fished wherever the fish were running, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Middle bank or the Atlantic Ocean. Conch, scallop, fluke, squid and flounder, if it was edible he caught them.  He was a fisherman's fisherman. Caught the most in the least time, was always back at the dock first. As the guys would say, "Just ask him."  Randy helped others whenever, wherever and whatever the situation. He remained at Dave's side one hot summer day when Dave suffered from heat exhaustion (dehydration, sun and overworked). Randy gave him water, cooled him off with wet towels, stayed at his side until Dave was better. Then another time he helped a fellow fishermen with an engine. Drove a trailer to the boat, helped take the engine out, helped take it to a mechanic and then helped put it back in.  Not his boat, but a friend's boat, for no pay, just the reward of helping out a buddy. Dave tells me that when a fellow fisherman, Tom was injured and couldn't get up because his knee twisted and gave out while fishing,  it was Randy who called for help.  His reassuring voice was heard on the airwaves by all until the Coast Guard was on scene to assist. I'm sure there are many more memories of Randy Moniz. He was a buddy, a friend, and a fellow fisherman who left this world at 53 years of age. There will be stories told about him for generations to come. And no one can fill his boots.  Rest in Peace, Randy.

"Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea."

A tropical storm blew in from the south with 40 knots of wind and lots of rain. I joined Dave aboard the Richard & Arnold for a trip to Menemsha, Martha's Vineyard and safe haven. I didn't sleep much because of all the noise, but Saturday was sunny and we spent the day visiting friends around the harbor, ate at the Galley, terrific on the back deck and then an early night. Went fishing on Sunday and Monday but the numbers of fluke are down and it looks like the storm scattered the fish. Instead of burning fuel Dave tied up the boat in Woods Hole and we came home for a few extra days of R&R.

Dave went back fishing and my days have been filled with friends from afar, grandchildren and summer gardening. Lots of fresh beans, basil, zucchini and fresh flowers for the table. I have had little time for writing but it is always on my mind. I sent my manuscript out for a professional edit and it came back needing lots of work, changes to parts of the story and changes in punctuation. Aaaahhh well, if it's worth doing - it's worth doing right. Looks like I'll be spending the next few weeks / months at the computer instead of the garden and beach. I'd like to get it done so I can move on to another story, the one about the the Arethusa.

The book I am working on is a mystery set in Provincetown in 1938. I've had to do a great deal of research, but it's been a learning experience as well as fun.  Sometimes I listen to music by Glenn Miller or Tommy Dorsey just to get me in the mood. Pre WWII was a time of growth, fishing was good and the town prospered. There were 27 fish trucking businesses in town. Fish was cheap but plentiful and the fishermen's association held a dance to celebrate and give thanks. There is something about that era that draws me to it, the freedom, the community spirit and a sense of hope.  The Fishermen's Ball is my choice of title but others have been suggested, I'll have to think on it as I go along.