FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA Read Online Free PDF Page A

looking?” she went on indicating his sheaf of papers.
    Dexter shrugged noncommittally.
    “I’ll have to run the figures through a calculator before I can tell for sure. Incidentally d’you know where Clotted Cream’s logbook is?” 
    “I haven’t seen it, so Tom probably left it on the yacht. Do you want it?”
    Dexter nodded. “I need to see what happened on the sea trials to get the full picture of what still has to be done. I can work out a rough estimate then of how much more money you’re likely to need for running repairs and adjustments to equipment.”
    “Come on then. I’ll take you over in the launch,” Polly offered, glad of an opportunity to escape from the office and get out on the river.
    Once on board the yacht, Dexter helped her open the hatch doorway and they both went down into the hull.
    Built for speed rather than comfort, the main cabin was a mass of navigational aids and electrical equipment. A small galley and a couple of bunks made up the spartan living area and the rest was storage space.
    The logbook was in the drawer of the chart table and while Dexter began his study, Polly headed down below to check that all the water-tight compartments were still dry.
    “Everything all right down there?” Dexter called out after a few moments. “Tom certainly had a rough passage home, with winds gusting at Force 10 at times. There were a few problems with the self-steering too. That’ll need sorting before you or anybody else take her out.”
    Polly looked at him as she came back up into the main cabin. Was he coming round to the idea of her doing the race?
    “Everything seems nice and dry down there. I’ll take the logbook ashore. Gramps is sure to want to read it. Are you ready to go?”
    Dexter nodded. Once on deck he stood in the cockpit looking over the stern of Clotted Cream towards the river mouth.
    “There’s something about these boats that makes you yearn for the open sea isn’t there?” he said quietly.
    “D’you do much sailing these days?” Polly asked.
    “Not a lot,” Dexter shrugged. “I had to sell my boat when I went to the States. I’m lucky that I’ve got friends who invite me to crew for them, but these days I’m rarely in the country.”
    “We could go for a sail early tomorrow morning if you like,” Polly offered. “That’s my boat over there.” She pointed to It’s Mine! on her mooring fifty yards up river.
    “You’re on,” Dexter said. “Six o’clock too early for you?”
    “No, that’s fine,” Polly smiled. “Come on. We’d better get back. I want you to go through those figures and tell me how much more money we need to keep Clotted Cream on course for the race.”
    Mai was in the kitchen when they got back giving Cassie the latest news from the hospital about Tom.
    “His right leg is broken in two places and his left in one. Thank goodness all the breaks are below the knee, but he’ll still be in plaster for weeks.”
    “What about his other injuries?” Cassie asked.
    “The doctors are confident that his internal bruising is just that - bruising. He’ll be in a wheelchair for some time, but the good news is he should be home by the end of next week.”
    “So I can definitely see him tomorrow?” Polly asked eagerly.
    “Yes. He’s looking forward to your visit.” Mai smiled.
    “We’ll have to sort out where he’s going to stay once he’s discharged,” Cassie said thoughtfully.
    “River Cottage is obviously out of the question. All those steps leading up to it and the spiral staircase inside.”
    “Could we put a bed in your sitting room?” Mai asked, indicating the small room that led off the kitchen. “It’s all on one level and Tom would be able to be a part of things.”
    “He could direct operations from here too,” Polly said.
    Mai looked puzzled but it was Cassie who answered.
    “Polly wants to compete in the race instead of Tom. She says there’s too much at stake to simply withdraw Clotted Cream . But nothing