The Undauntable Margret O'Lee

By Ross D. Clay

A magnificent coming of age story of a remarkable woman, Ms. Margret O'Lee.

It is two stories in one, from flash back as young girl learning the Shipwright trade,

to flash forward with Margret as a great mariner.

Writen with humor and exciting action this story is written for all ages.

A must read for one and all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ross D. Clay
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215615058

Ross D. Clay

Mr. Ross D. Clay is season professional in the Entertainment Industry for some 40 years. He brings his expriences and passions as well has his love for fur bearing critters to his writtings. The story, 'The Toe Mittens Christmas'  will bring you good tidings and joy for years to come. Happy Holidays to you all!

Book preview

The Zuider Zee can be a formidable place of nature at times: a raging sea swept by gale force winds and rain. Captain Margret O'Lee is a force of nature also. She is holding the helm of a 30-foot sloop rig with a grip of iron. Her hands are not the ordinary hands of a pedestrian: she is used to holding the helm of a vessel and stands brazen against the wind and rain. The hauling of sails has made her strong, and the waves, sailing on to rescue the cutter vessel, remind her of a time past, hammering the nails and pegs into the hulls of other vessels of the sea.

The standing rigging is howling with the wind. The 40-knot gale force winds continue to pummel the sloop. But Margret has been here before, sailing undaunted. For this mission is one of a race against time and a rescue of life or death. The mainsail of her vessel is well-reefed, it is secured with the two storm jibs set, and all sails bellow onwards. This passage will take about an hour to reach the distressed crew of a capsized cutter.

Margret looks to the horizon to judge how long the storm will last. She calculates at least several hours. She is able to see the cutter more clearly now. It is on its side: the masts are slowly sinking with its sails. The vessel is about to capsize. She’s not close enough yet to see how many crewmembers there are; she hopes none have perished in the cold waters...

Captain Margret O’Lee, or Skipper Margret as she is better known, is an older woman with the piercing blue eyes of a true New England Yankee. She is a world class mariner. Her long hair looks like a brilliant red pyre ablaze, with streaks of white as if they are thunderbolts and her locks are buffeted by the wind. Margret grabs ahold and adjusts the jib’s lines to tune the sloop as it presses on.

Meanwhile, on the wharf at the harbor sits a lone, older man. He has the appearance and bearing of a mariner, sporting a well-groomed captain’s beard. He is staring out at the Zuider Zee with antique binoculars. He focuses on the lone sloop that is making    way to the distressed vessel. This is a typical day at the office for him, for he has seen his wife take matters in her own hands when it comes   to nautical issues. That is why, this man, being the well-known, semi-retired Captain Peter Zubin, married dear Margret O'Lee.

Captain Peter looks at his wristwatch. It was just 40 minutes ago that he and his dear Margret were walking out onto the dock arm-in-arm, as was their custom. They watched together as the storm came in very fast, agreeing that it was an angry storm, with a bellowing wind and snarling with a torrent of rain.

Margret and Peter saw the cutter from afar, trying to make its way into the harbor with too much sail. It was attempting to outrun the storm. That is when an unforgiving gust blew it over as if it         was a tiny toy. The cutter was lying on its side and foundering.

Instinctively knowing what would happen to the cutter and crew, Margret flies into action, ‘Peter dearest, stand watch, I’ll be right back.’ she says, sprinting to the dock and then to the slip. There, Margret leaps aboard a 30-foot sloop rig. Landing like a cat upon the deck, she immediately finds the keys and starts the engine. She checks all systems, and punches in the GPS for safe measure.

As her tornado self, whirling about, she unties all the lines the bow, stern, and spring lines, holding the sloop to the slip. Then defying the laws of gravity, she leaps into the cockpit, steering the sloop to pivot on its stern, out of the slip, and out into the harbor, all in one go.

Captain Peter just calmly looks on, pleased that his dear wife is in her element. For Margret there is no better world than to be in control of a stout vessel, challenging the wind and giving aide to those in need.

The sloop's foresails are alive, it's main-reefed, for it is rigged and tuned as it makes headway. The ocean swells are high but the sloop is trimmed well. Margret, with   a wry smile, nods to herself as she reflects on