Low water at dawn
The harbour empties slowly in autumn. By six the hulls lean on the mud and the gulls take over the pier. It is the best hour to look at rigging: nothing moves, and every line shows where it goes.
Slow Tide Notes
Short notes about the sea, old boats and quiet mornings.
On splicing rope
An eye splice takes ten minutes once your hands remember the tucks. Three strands, against the lay, then taper. A good splice keeps most of the rope's strength; a knot in the same place gives a lot of it away.
Reading the tide tables
The rule of twelfths is still the easiest way to guess the water at any hour: one, two, three, three, two, one. It is never exact, but it is close enough to decide whether to wait for the next tide.