In Deep Water – Michael J Tougias

Then an image of his nieces and nephews flashes through his consciousness along with all the plans he had for them—the fishing trips, the sharing of knowledge, the walks with the dogs. He hates the thought of his nieces and nephews growing up without him in their lives. One more reason to fight. “Aaahhh!” screams Lu as he whips one hand out of the water. Something clamped on to his fingertip and bit down. It surprises him rather than hurts him.

His finger is OK, but not being able to see the fish, no matter how small, is disconcerting, allowing for no warning when something touches him. And he is being touched often. The jellyfish are mostly gone, but remoras are probing his skin, and other fish nibble on his fingers and even his toes if he stops moving his legs. A couple of times a larger-size fish has bumped into his legs or arms and he swats it away.

Sonny and Paul have done the same. All of their cell phones still have power, but except for checking if there is a signal, they conserve their batteries and don’t use the phones’ flashlight. They might need those lights if a boat or aircraft is searching for them.

Besides, there is nothing to see with the flashlights. They can make out the heads of each other from the faint starlight, and that is enough. Paul is doing his best to conserve energy. At one point he even looks at the stars, admiring their brilliance away from city lights. He thinks back on his days working on the oil rigs and how he lay out on the helicopter pad some nights to marvel at the stars and the intensity of the Milky Way.

Now he is thankful for the clear sky. It means no storms are nearby, and Paul knows that a low ceiling of clouds or rain will decrease their chances of being seen by an aircraft or vessel in the morning. The morning. Rest, rest, rest, and then give it everything in the morning. He glances back up at the stars and imagines himself back on land, someday looking up at the very same pinpricks of radiance with his son, and the thought calms him.

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OceanofPDF.com To Leo Roux and Rita Dickinson OceanofPDF.com PROLOGUE Having investigated boating disasters for more than thirty years, I’ve learned that when they do occur they often come suddenly, with little time to react. Imagine you’re that weekend boater who runs into bad luck. Perhaps an unpredicted and especially fast-moving storm takes direct aim at your vessel, or a rogue wave materializes out of relatively calm seas.

Sometimes trouble comes from the boat itself with a malfunction, or perhaps your navigation skills are not what you think they are. An unseen rock, a floating log, even a whale can sink a vessel. When in danger you need quick access to your emergency equipment. Are the life jackets accessible? Is the radio working? Does your cell phone have reception? If you’re in dire straits, transmitting a Mayday is an essential first step. Should the Mayday go out, the information given will determine the Coast Guard’s response.

Will the rescuers know where to look? Will they know how many people need to be saved? Will the attempt to locate survivors occur in the daytime or at night? All these, and many more factors, will determine survivability. Should you not be able to get a Mayday off, did you tell a loved one or a reliable friend where you were headed and what time you’d return?

If not, who (if anyone) will notice you are overdue, and when will their worry prompt action? Sometimes it’s hours after your planned return. Or, sadly, it could be days later. Even the most experienced boaters and sailors can become complacent and make an unforced error, or forget to pack that one piece of equipment that would get them out of a jam.

The storm shutters are not on board the one time you need them, or the GPS craps out as you’re racing ahead of a lightning storm to an unfamiliar port. Maybe the fuel runs out and the vessel is dead in the water as waves build. Where the accident happens also determines survivability.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

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• Unique ID: d7e327f5f04c460d
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• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 205
• Language: English (en)

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