Story Sailor Sam

fastback08

Veteran Member
FB must be a sailor....
FB, can you sail by the stars????
Running from a hurricane even in a good sized sail boat has to be a challenge....
Texican....

I have never sailed very far from sight of shore, I did spend some time in the late 60's early 70's working a shrimp boat in the Gulf. We would be beyond sight of land for days at a time. I was caught in a squall coming in from Horn Island on the Fourth of July in 1970. Found out later the winds were over 75 mph. That was a scary ride. Several boats did not make it, but there was no loss of life. I cannot navigate by the stars, beyond finding direction. If you are in the Gulf of Mexico and you go North, you will find shore.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
I have never sailed very far from sight of shore, I did spend some time in the late 60's early 70's working a shrimp boat in the Gulf. We would be beyond sight of land for days at a time. I was caught in a squall coming in from Horn Island on the Fourth of July in 1970. Found out later the winds were over 75 mph. That was a scary ride. Several boats did not make it, but there was no loss of life. I cannot navigate by the stars, beyond finding direction. If you are in the Gulf of Mexico and you go North, you will find shore.


FB,

With 75 mph winds, what height were the waves????
Were you looking at waves towering over the shrimp boat????
Years ago, was off the gulf shore 40 miles plus on a fishing boat with my two sons....
The wife declined going far off shore. The wife has also declined to go to Hawaii and Europe for as she stated, not going over water where I can not see land....
The youngest son got a taste of sea sickness :kk2: with fairly mild seas and was his first and last trip off shore....
Have respect for the men and women that brave the seas to bring us land lovers seafood....

FB, it is good that you survived the storm....

For this allows your readers to enjoy your writings.....

Texican....
 

TA12SEC

Senior Member
Love the story, makes me wanna pack it all up and take off.
Having covered a few miles on sailboats, sheets are the lines that control sails. And even the fastest 40 ft crusing boat would be lucky to average 10 knts over ground. I race on 40 ish foot boats that with 8 guys working to make the boat fast we average 10 knts.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Oooohhhhhh FB,

We are treading water out here and the hurricane is fastly approaching....

We need a lifeline....

The next chapter would work beautifully....

Texican....
 

fastback08

Veteran Member
Between my internet being down for a few days and my own laziness, this is long over due. More soon.

Chapter 25​

Rowdy made contact at the appointed time and for once the news was better.

“Looks like the forward progress of the storm is slowing some. The bad news is, it is sitting in an area of very warm water and it looks as if it will gain strength,” Rowdy broke the news to Sam. “You need to continue to Swan Islands and find the US Ship, Mabus. It is a sub tender. When you get to the dock, ask for Mike Callahan, seaman first class. He is expecting you and Irene. He will have further instructions for you.”

“I copy all of that Rowdy, are you sure we can trust Seaman Callahan,” Sam questioned Rowdy?

“Roger, you can trust him with your life. Make all good speed, no one seems to know where the track of the storm is going. It is almost as if it is being steered.”

Rowdy and Sam broke contact and Sam briefed Irene on the conversation. With a little luck they should be within sight of Swan island within 24 hours.

“I think we can tie everything down and go below for a bit. I am pretty hungry and I really could sleep for a little bit,” Sam suggested. Do you think you could hustle up a bite while I secure the wheel?”

Irene gave a quick ‘Aye Captain’ and disappeared down the three steps to the cabin. Once in the galley she quickly prepared a lunch for both of them and said a silent thank you to Rowdy.

Sam scarcely finished the deconstructed sandwiches, they had run out of bread, before he nosed over. Irene kept him awake long enough to get him in the bunk and it was lights out. Knowing she was in charge for the next few hours, Irene made a pot of strong coffee and went back on deck to watch the compass.

Sam woke with a start, scratching his head, he couldn’t quite figure out how it had gotten dark so quickly. Listening, he could only hear the wind and the waves. He quickly pulled his trousers and shoes on and clambered on to the deck. Sam thought he had never seen anything as beautiful as Irene, illuminated by a solo light as she held the wheel and gazed into the compass. It was at his moment that Sam knew he would do whatever he had to do to make certain Irene would always be in his life.

“Hello, Skipper,” Sam called out to her, “Why did you let me sleep so long?”

“I always figured the body knew how much sleep it needs, so I let you get what you needed, besides, you have been a walking ghost the last couple of days. I could see the exhaustion in you, even if you refused to acknowledge it,” Irene reasoned.

“Let me get a cup of Joe, and I will take over,” Sam offered.

“No hurry,” Irene answered, “the weather is calming somewhat. I have tried to keep up with our speed by using the GPS, but I’m afraid you are going to have to chart our position.”

Sam disappeared below deck to start the coffee and Irene pulled the charts out for Sam to peruse when he came back up. When Sam reappeared with two mugs, Irene gave the compass a last look and secured the wheel.

“I have kept the course steady and the wind has been really consistent for most of the day. Other than decreasing in speed, everything has been just as you left it,” Irene reported.


“Good job, Sailor,” Sam complimented his First Mate, “I apologize for sleeping all day, but I guess I was more tired than I realized.’

Sam got out the charts and after consulting the few visible stars and the speed log, Irene had thoughtfully kept, he decided that the Swan Island should be visible by daybreak, if the wind held out. He got out the GPS and confirmed what the stars had told him. Carefully rolling up the chart and stowing his instruments, he connected his radio to the dipole antenna stretched across the boat. Turning on the HAM radio, Sam heard excited chatter almost immediately. It seems the United States had repelled an invasion attempt on the West Coast. Whether it was a serious attempt or just a fact finding attempt, remained to be seen. All was quite on the Eastern seaboard and the Gulf. Sam was able to piece together some more information. It seems the US Military had grown tired of waiting for the government to respond and was beginning to take things into their own hands. The president, his cabinet, and key congressional leaders were being held incommunicado. The Speaker of the House was the defacto leader, but was acting in accordance with the military. The congress was still in session, but the military leaders were acting in the role of the president. Making suggestions and leading the country with the aid of congress and the Supreme Court. It seemed that several Military leaders were staunch Constitutionalists, and they were determined to preserve the Constitution at any cost. From what Sam was hearing on the radio, The upcoming elections would be placed on hold until such time as all Americans could vote in safety. The draft had been reinstated and all able bodied men between eighteen and twenty five were to report to the police station closest to their residence for physicals and to register for the draft. Sam was well over twenty five, but he was a patriot and he considered asking the commander of the USS Mabus, if he could reenlist and serve. He would, however have to talk to Irene first.
 

Sportsman

Veteran Member
Well, we don't tolerate laziness around here, so we'll go with the Internet being down excuse.

Thanks for the new chapter, it's appreciated. I'm looking forward to more when you can share them.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
FN, thanks for the new chapter....
The moar crowd now have our heads above water....
Texican....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Sam was well over twenty five, but he was a patriot and he considered asking the commander of the USS Mabus, if he could reenlist and serve. He would, however have to talk to Irene first.

Yep, Sam knows how his sails hang....

Texican....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Sam made a commitment to protect and care for Irene. Real men, with real self respect, stand by their commitments.

There are commitments and then there are commitments....

Sam was in the military....
And....
Even if you have fulfilled your commitment to or even retired from the military...
Mil.fed.gov can call you back....

Texican....
 

Siskiyoumom

Veteran Member
Thank you!

I was doing genealogy research recently and it turns out my husbands great-grandfather registered for the draft in WW11 at the age of 58. He was a spry 5 foot five and had grey hair. He had escaped Europe during WW1 after being conscripted by the Army in Poland and he did not honor the reigning leaders at the time. He escaped and made his way via France then England to his new homeland. He wanted to serve on the what he wrote was the "correct side of the spiritual realm.".
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Ooohhhh FB, FB....

You didn't fall off the sail boat, did you????

The moar crowd is starting to tread water again....

And the hurricane is approaching....

Texican....
 

fastback08

Veteran Member
Chapter 26​


Sam awoke with a start, he was still in the seat behind the wheel and Irene was stretched out on the deck beside him. Apparently they had both nodded up from the exhaustion of twenty four hour a day sailing. Sam checked the compass and found the heading was correct, but the boat had slowed considerably. Sam then noticed that there were very few clouds and slight breezes. He gently woke Irene, and asked if she could make some breakfast while he tried to get their location.

Irene was below deck in front of the propane stove when she heard a whoop from Sam on deck. She quickly made her way up to see what was happening, and saw Sam on the sat phone. He held up one finger to let her know he would be off in a minute. She ran back to the galley and got everything taken up before it burned and when she reappeared on the deck, Sam was grinning from ear to ear.

“That was Rowdy,” said Sam, “He said the storm has become completely stationary. It isn’t moving in any direction, but it is gaining strength.”

“How can the be, Sam,” asked Irene, “I have heard of storms stalling, but don’t they lose power when they do that?”

“Rowdy said the Chinese government contacted the US Government and demanded one trillion dollars to stop the storm. Rowdy says they are holding the US ransom and claim they are controlling and guiding the storm. This stall is proof by them they they are in control. If the US pays up, they will diminish the storm and it will blow itself out. If we do not, they will strike the US mainland repeatedly.”

“How can they do that, Sam, no one can control the weather,” said Irene.

“We have been experimenting with that for years,” Sam replied, “I don’t know if you ever heard of HAARP, but as I recall it was a method of causing superheated areas in the atmosphere by directing radio waves. Something like that could intensify a storm. The green crowd in the US protested so vigorously, the US moth balled the project. I guess the Chinese kept it up. It would have been a simple matter of hacking our computers to get our results.”

“Have you figured our position, yet,” asked Irene”

“I have and I have confirmed it the GPS. We should be in sight of the Swan Islands before midday.”

Sam and Irene sat at the small table excitedly eating their brunch, and discussing what they would do once they made it the Swan Islands. Sam decided he was going to try and restore his root beer supply and Irene wanted to buy as much fresh food as she could get.
By the time they had secured the dishes and cleaned the galley, they had sailed to within sight of the Swan Islands. Sam brought down the sails and tried Rowdy on the sat phone. Rowdy answered quickly and told Sam to come on into the harbor on the Southern tip of the main island. He told Sam if one was available, he would have a motor launch meet him, but if there was not one, to come to Pier three Slip two. Seaman Callahan would meet him on the pier. Irene was briefed and they made for the island at a reduced speed.
 

ejagno

Veteran Member
Now this was an interesting twist in the thickening plot of the destruction of the US. Thanks for sharing your creative talent with us. Keep it coming!
 

fastback08

Veteran Member
Chapter 27​

“Jibe ho!”, Sam called out as he swung the boom for the last leg on the trip to the leeward side of the island. Irene deftly ducked her head as the heavy wooden beam came across the deck. Sam maneuvered the boat toward the island that seemed to growing larger as they approached.

“I an going to sail as close as we can, but for the actual entrance into the harbor, I will be using the diesel,” Sam explained to Irene. “Why don’t you go ahead and start it and let it warm up. We haven’t used it in quite a while.”

Irene jumped to the controls and after spinning over a few to build oil pressure, she turned the fuel on and the diesel fired to life. Setting it at a fast idle, the engine smoothed out in no time and as soon as Irene was sure it was running as it should, she reduced the idle speed. She then went below and made sure they had plenty of fuel to get to the harbor.

“Good job, Mate”, Sam called out. If you keep that up. I may hire you full time.”

“Do we have time for a bite before we get there,” she asked Sam?

“I don’t think so,” Sam answered, “But I could sure use something to wet my whistle.”

Irene appeared at the wheel with two glasses of iced tea and they both contemplated what lay ahead.

“Irene, I feel that it is my duty to offer my services to the Navy. I have thought it over and it just makes sense for me to reenlist. I already have training, and I could step right into an active role.”

“Of course you feel that way, I have been waiting for you to tell me of your intentions. After all what Father wouldn’t want to serve his country and make it safe or his child?”

“What are you talking about?” Sam asked, “I don’t have a child.”

“Not yet, but in about seven months you will”, said Irene with a smile on her face.
Sam almost lost the wheel as his knees buckled. “How did that happen,” he asked?

“Oh I think you know how it happened,” Irene answered, “We have been out here quite a while, and the one thing I forgot to bring extra was protection.”

Sam started pulling down the sails and Irene began storing them. Sam nudged the Yanmar into gear and the boat made the final turn into the harbor. Sitting across the harbor entrance was a Zodiak with a seaman on board. Sam put the engine into neutral and pulled alongside.

“We are here to meet Seaman Callahan,” Sam announced, “Would you be him?”

“No sir,” the sailor answered, “I am here to guide you in. Seaman Callahan is on board the Mabus.” With that the sailor took the line thrown to him by Sam and using the Zodiak as an ersatz tug boat, he moved ahead dead slow.

The harbor was deceptive, It appeared to be bigger than the island itself and was thoroughly modernized. There were a number of Naval ships there and there were many flags represented. This was a formidable grouping of war ships and they were obviously part of something big. Once Sam’s boat was securely docked, he and Irene started for the Mabus. Stopped at the gangway by an armed guard, Sam stated his business and was told to wait. He and Irene were talking and wondering what he had gotten themselves into, when a familiar voice boomed out.

“Sam,” called the voice, “Come one aboard, you have been cleared.”

Sam was stunned to see Rowdy looking down at him from the gang plank. “Are you Seaman Callahan,” asked Sam?

“I sure am, Sam,” laughed Rowdy, “There is so much top secret activity going on, the Captain wanted me to get you here, but we had to be pretty discrete. Rowdy is officially in the North Sea. We can catch up later, right now, the Captain is waiting to meet you two.”
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
FB,

Thanks for the chapter....

We know life is busy....

And having you around is pleasing....

Texican....
 

fastback08

Veteran Member
Chapter 28​


Rowdy led the couple to a small room that was configured as a small board room. There was a conference table that largely filled the room and had three chairs on each side and one at the head. The Captain was seated at the head of the table and beckoned the couple in and asked them to be seated. He dismissed Rowdy and as soon as the door was closed securely, the Captain began.

“Sorry for the rush, but I have some important news for you and this needs to kept on a top secret level. We have thoroughly checked both your background and Irene’s. Sam you were an exemplary sailor. We have need of men of your caliber, but not in a uniform. I am going to pass along an offer to you that was sent down from Washington. You can accept it or refuse it, either way I want both of you to decide.

“Wait a minute,” Sam interrupted, “what in the hell do you mean you have investigated our backgrounds. What the hell does that have to do with offering us safe harbor?”

The Captain leaned back in his chair, and tented his fingers and with a slight grin he said, “Sam it was no accident when you ran into ‘Ol’ Tom” out in the Caribbean. We have been keeping up with you since you left the small craft harbor in Gulfport. At first we were keeping surveillance on all boats leaving the area of the bombings, but we quickly determined, you being offshore was a fortunate coincidence. We know of you prior service, and the US needs your help again if you are willing.”

“Actually sir,” Sam began with a glance toward Irene, “I was thinking of asking you if it was possible for me to reenlist, but, I just found out I am to be a father and I am not sure if it is appropriate for me to leave Irene.”

“Understandable, and commendable,” said the Captain, “But we don’t want you back in the Navy. What we want is for you and Irene to do the same type of work Ol’ Tom is doing. You have a perfect cover story, we will be in regular contact and you will be kept in the inner loop. Sam, I am going to level with you, right know as we are speaking, there is a wing of B-2 bombers making there way to three targets, two of which are on the Chinese mainland. We have located their HAARP type transmitters and they will be reduced to a smoking hole in the ground. There is really no way to know what the repercussions will be, but we will not pay ransom and we will not have our cities destroyed. You and Irene are going to taken to a small hotel on the Island and I want you to carefully consider what I have told you. I will meet you there at noon tomorrow and you can give me your answer. This could be dangerous, but it may be a way to sail the world at the government’s expense.”
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Bombing China and others....

Sailing the world on the government's $$$'s....

What more could you ask for????

Now what will Sailor Sam and Irene decide???? Off to see the world....

Thanks FB for the chapter....

Texican....

Now
 

ejagno

Veteran Member
This is a wonderful twist in this story. I can't wait to see where their lucrative adventures take them.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Sam, ooohhhhh Sam....

Where are you????

Did you fall into the gulf....

Texican....
 

tech

Veteran Member
Great story thus far FB. Not sure how I had missed it, but certainly glad to have caught up with it :)
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Oooohhhhhh Fb, Fb....

We are praying that you did not fall overboard....

Texican....
 
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