anyone joining her on the deck. Then, from the corner of her eye, she recognized her father’s foul-weather suit and its hard-brimmed hood bending over her semi-conscious mother, gripping the wheel with one hand and easing Faye into one of the deck seats behind them. Emma readied herself to relinquish her spot at the helm. But she didn’t feel the release of as much tension on the steering as she would have expected; she was still straining to hold Buona Fortuna on course. She turned to greet her father and saw Domenica’s terrified face looking back at her beneath their father’s hood.
“Dom, don’t worry,” she yelled, feeling protective of her sister. Emma watched the streaks of lightning illuminating the sky in the distance. Black squall lines were still rushing towards them over the darkened horizon. Emma’s blanket was soaked through, and her teeth were knocking together.
“Dom,” she yelled again, shaking her head to remove some of the water streaking down her face. All her muscles ached. But Domenica kept her eyes down, looking at the deck rather than at the waves engulfing their small boat, and Emma realized her sister could not hear her.
She wanted to tell Domenica that they would never abandon one another, that she would never betray her like their father had, or ignore her like their mother. Or try to keep her to herself, an ocean away from real life. “Everything’s going to be okay,” Emma shouted, though in that moment she wasn’t sure she believed it.
If Domenica heard her, she didn’t give a sign. The girls held on tight.
Buona Fortuna Dispatch #2 ~ Cape May, N.J.
Posted in owengrantwriter.com/blog on October 13, 2020 by Owen
Thank you for your messages, everyone. I’m thrilled so many of you responded to my tentatively expressed hope for some lively commentary on the blog. I feel as though I’ve been seen off by scores of well-wishers.
A few of you have requested more details about the process of setting to sea. Jim in Homestead, Florida, asked for a list of yacht upgrades, and Sam in Ayr, Scotland, wondered about provisioning for a long-term offshore cruise. First of all, let me say that you should only undertake this type of journey if you’re a qualified sailor. But with that disclaimer on the record, I don’t mind sharing some details about my preparations.
I’ve brought onboard a lot of necessities: food, fuel, spare parts, tools, manuals, an extensive medical kit with four bottles of seasickness pills. The bottom of the boat has been freshly painted with anti-fouling paint to keep off the barnacles. New solar panels have been installed, as well as a new watermaker, new communication systems, a wind generator, and underwater lights for night swimming.
I’ve also discovered that more food comes in powdered form than I’d ever imagined. Case in point: powdered butter. But don’t worry…I’m opting for canned. Yes, canned butter!
Another thing I’ve learned: you have to think about buoyancy, the weight of everything you’ve put aboard. Water and other liquids (ahem, beer), with a stockpile of food and fuel laid by, can actually affect the overall weight so much that you may need to adjust your waterline.
Of course, I’m carrying aboard a lot of cherished hopes and plans as well. This isn’t just about avoiding ARAMIS. It’s an excuse to follow a dream that I’ve had since I was a little boy—simply getting in a boat and sailing away.
One thing I don’t have: plants. I’d mentioned a potted fern and a cactus in my first post and a couple of you warned me that real sailors won’t stand for such things. Apparently, plants shouldn’t come to sea; they seek the earth. Call me superstitious, but I’ve thrown the poor things overboard. Better them than me.
Dove Suite Band Members Announce Pregnancy
Sept. 12, 2020
NEW YORK—Dove Suite band members Emma Aslet and Stuart Jenkins are expecting their first child. Frontman Jenkins made the announcement during a press conference to reveal the full lineup of performers for To America With Love, the sold-out day-long music festival in support of ARAMIS relief that Dove Suite will be headlining in Vancouver on September 26.
Now based in Austin, Texas, Aslet, 32, and Jenkins, 34, were married in 2009, one year after founding the successful indie rock quartet in Philadelphia with bassist Jesse Luxton and drummer Ben Grainger.
Jenkins spoke to Rolling Stone about the couple’s excitement: “It’s beyond thrilling, to be honest. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
Rumours of the pregnancy have been circulating online since