Summer at Forsaken Lake (31 page)
Read Summer at Forsaken Lake Online
Authors: Michael D. Beil
backstay:
a cable stretching from the masthead to the stern on most larger sailboats
beam reach:
the point of sail where the boat is sailing at a right angle to the wind direction
boom:
a wood or metal pole attached at a right angle to the mast
bow:
the front part of a boat
cat’s paws:
small ripples on the water that resemble cat footprints
centerboard:
a movable board that can be lowered through the bottom of a sailboat to reduce sideways movement
cleat:
a piece of hardware used to tie off the end of a line (rope) or sheet
coaming:
a raised rim around the cockpit, designed to keep water out
cockpit:
the area near the stern of the boat where the tiller is located
dinghy:
a small rowboat, often used to reach a moored sailboat
forestay:
a cable stretching from the masthead to the bow
gunwale
(pronounced “gunn’l”): the upper edge of a boat, where the deck meets the hull
halyard:
a line used to raise or lower a sail
heel:
to lean over because of the force of the wind on the sails
jib:
a triangular sail that attaches to the forestay
knot:
a nautical mile
mainsail:
a sail attached to both mast and boom; it is usually the largest sail
mainsheet:
the line used to control the mainsail
mast:
a tall wood or metal post on a sailboat to which sails are attached
masthead:
the top part of a mast
mooring:
a place for keeping a boat secure; it includes a heavy anchor and a float of some kind to which the boat is attached
port:
the left-hand side of a boat
reef:
to reduce the size of a sail by tucking in a part of it and tying it off
rudder:
a hinged plate below the waterline used to steer a boat
sandbar:
a shallow, sandy spot in a lake or ocean, also known as a shoal
sheet:
a line used to control sails
shroud:
a cable that stretches from the top of the mast to the sides of a boat, supporting the mast
starboard:
the right-hand side of a boat
staysail:
a triangular sail similar to a jib but attached to a stay between the mast and the forestay.
stern:
the rear part of a boat
tack:
to follow a zigzag course (because sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind)
tiller:
a wooden handle attached to the rudder used to steer a sailboat
topsides:
the surface of a boat’s hull that is above the waterline
I would like to thank the following people:
First and foremost, my parents, who went to the 1962 Cleveland Boat Show and, despite having no real knowledge of sailing, bought a Wayfarer 608 because it was “the prettiest boat there”—a decision that changed all our lives.
My aunt Dot and uncle Jim, for the amazing memories and inspiration that you provided.
And, in no particular order:
Rosemary Stimola, superstar agent and BFF of the RBGs.
Nancy Hinkel, editor extraordinaire, sounding board, critic, and tireless advocate of middle-grade fiction.
Everyone at Knopf Books for Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, and Listening Library, for their continued support and efforts on my behalf.
My brother Steve, for starring in the original 8 mm version of
The Seaweed Strangler
, and for buying a worn copy of
We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea
at a school-library sale for a quarter.
Sister Gail Morgan, OP (a fellow Buckeye!), and everyone at SVF, for the continued support and friendship.
Friends and family may recognize certain similarities as well as some striking differences between Forsaken Lake and Pymatuning Lake, on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Pymatuning Lake is a wonderful and most certainly
not
forsaken place, nor is it home to a creature with a penchant for strangling his victims with a length of seaweed. As far as I know, that is.
And Laura, for everything.