Ad Lib 38

 A tale of two dogs and a cat, replaces that of Stargazer’s planned passage. The dawn forecast check revealing wind speeds rising to 25 knots, in the Alderney Race (Raz Blanchard), by evening. Too much for comfort. Albeit the tide timings are perfect. 

“That Doggie, In The Window” of the Poole inshore lifeboat station (no indication given as to “how much,” or whether “for sale”), is cleverly crafted from cast off yellow RNLI deck boots.

Perhaps the curriculum, of the Lifeboat College, is broader than its name suggests?

Meanwhile, the cat in question is concealed in a quiet corner of the Cobbs Quay boatyard. Evidently named by an aficionado of Hoyt Axton's 1979 Country hit "Della and the Dealer."

"It was Della and the Dealer and a dog named Jake

And a cat named Kalamazoo

Left the city in a pickup truck

Gonna make some dreams come true. . . ."

Canine companion, Jake, subsequently coming in for a cursory mention.

". . .If that cat could talk what tales he'd tell

About Della and the Dealer and the dog, as well

But the cat was cool, and never said a mumblin' word. . ."