Page 76 - Frank Rosenow "Seagoing Knots"

The True Lover’s Knot

Tropical storm Josephine had been upgraded to a hurricane. It was
reported 200 miles northeast of Nassau, with 75-mph winds and 16-foot
waves. Playing it safe, we tucked in behind Nassau’s Potter’s Cay, next to
James McKinsey’s Jatea of Ragged Island and Moodey Moxey’s Glove Trot¬
ter of Moxeytown, Andros. Moodey, a jaunty old man with a skipper’s cap
hoisted well aloft on his sparse white curls, had brought in 2,000 conch
shells at one dollar a conch and was the only sober man on board.
“I run de boat back and go from Porgee Rocks to Gibson Cay when we

get dem five hundred chicken on board tonight,” he yelled against the high
whine of the wind.
A sturdy paddle came floating along on the agitated water and Moodey
made a bight in the end of a line, took turns around the standing part and
the end, and tucked through (see drawing), whereupon he bent down over
the ultramarine topside and slipped the noose over the handle. Snugged
up, and with a half hitch to lock the noose, the knot comfortably held the
flotsam as he hoisted it over the side.

SEAGOING KNOTS
-pi 7 2

cvr