Home Page  Sundowners  Lee Rail pt 1 Ballast on the Lee Rail continues......  Where I summoned up the strength to hold on to the rail I couldn't say, but hold on I did. When Barnaby couldn't see me he began to yell out. I saw him; legs astride for balance yelling out my name. "Netti, Netti" he bellowed. I was too tired to answer. As I was still being dragged and battered against the boat, I felt I was slipping into a dream. I could see my white knuckled hand gripping, but I wasn't sure if it was me. My mind was flicking through times past. The stainless steel rail we had welded onto the transom years ago was $56.23 I remembered. We had got Andrew the boiler maker to fabricate it and then we welded it on to the boat. I had the washing on the line that day and hastily brought the clothes inside as Andrew and Barnaby ground the hull for the fixings. "Netti" Barnaby yelled, and I looked up to see his fluro jacket right above me. "Hold on Netti, I'm coming" he shouted. I saw he had the gaffer in his hand. I realised his intention was to gaff me onto the deck. I hoped he didn't dig in too far and grab my back bone. With one swoop of his arm he brought the gaff down and it caught my life-vest. Then he started to pull me up. I was loathed to let go of the rail and my grip had become a vice. "Let go Netti" he said, but I couldn't. My hand was locked onto the rail my muscles contracted into a cramp. I pleaded with my eyes for him to be gentle; he grabbed my life-line, and then my vest pulling me ever closer to safety. Then he cracked the gaffer over my hand to make me let go. It worked and he completed the haul out to the deck. The boat was bucking and then we slid down the back of a wave into a deep trough. The seconds of calm gave Barnaby enough time to drag me to the cockpit and dump me on the floor. My life-line was still attached to the handrail near the mast, but once in the relative safety of the cockpit Barnaby unhooked me and shoved me down below into the calm of the Rosewood and white laminate interior. It was only then, I remember breathing. I rolled over on the floor to watch Barnaby lashing the tiller and getting ready to jump inside with me.  We had made steel doors for the companionway in case of thieves, but now I was glad they were strong and reliable against the storm. With a thud Barnaby jumped inside and then pulled the doors shut. We were safe. I wanted to say thanks to Barnaby but I couldn't speak. A small croak was all I managed. Barnaby and I lay on the floor, the boat bucking and dipping with every wave. I looked over and he reached out to grab my hand. I winced with the pain of his squeeze on my fingers, but he didn't let go. I closed my eyes then and felt a warm peace overtake me. When I woke up, I was in bed. I was shivering and my teeth were chattering. I glanced around the V berth but couldn't see much in the gloom. As my shaking and shivering became heaving spasms I tried to move. The pain I felt was enough to bring me back to the land of the living. I tried to remember all that had happened but it was just a jumble in my mind. How long I was in the water was a mystery, what day it was, was a blur. I couldn't decide if it was day or night now, as I lay convulsing in my bed. Then Barnaby appeared in the doorway, with a hot water bottle and 'fish hook' our little terrier. Immediately he layered all our available blankets and clothes over me to get me warm and shoved the hot water bottle on my back. I closed my eyes with gratitude and to hide some of my pain as warmth started to keep my body still. After about 5 minutes I realised the noise outside had stopped. The motion of the boat was slow and rhythmic which I knew to be the usual state of affairs Barnaby stroked my hair and fishhook walked up to me for a sniff. "Glad to have you back" Barnaby said and planted a kiss on my forehead. "Glad to be back" I croaked and then I realised my lips were swollen and felt thick. I went to touch them with my fingers but couldn't lift my arm. I must have had the pain etched on my face because Barnaby began to list my injuries. "Don't try to move, as far as I can tell, you have 2 fat lips, a bump on your head the size of an egg, a broken arm, 1 broken finger, sorry my fault, a wicked burn on your neck and possibly several cracked ribs. That's about it. Oh we only lost 1 whisky glass, my fault again and Fish hook won't let me out of her sight for some reason. One more thing, I love you, but don't ever do that again or all you will be good for is, ballast on the lee rail. 2030