Momentum Lost

On a crisp May morning, 220 miles east of the Chesapeake Bay in the Atlantic Ocean, crew members of an oil tanker investigate a distant object. They recover a life raft and two people – one dead, the other barely alive – and a backpack that provides the sole clue to unraveling the mystery behind their discovery.

Months earlier, Nelson Sharpe and his fiancée, Quinney, had signed up to be part of a crew of four on a 1200-mile sailboat delivery. Nelson set out determined to improve his maritime competency by overcoming his fear of sailing at night and in stormy weather. Mechanical malfunctions plagued their departure. They then missed a critical weather window and eventually found themselves on a collision course with a colossal Canadian weather front.

As the days passed, Nelson’s confidence faltered. He lost the captain’s respect and faced persistent bullying from a crew member who disregarded boundaries with Quinney. Having contended with high seas, draining aloneness, debilitating seasickness, and nose-to-nose confrontations – the crew was forced to come together to battle a powerful storm.

Author Biography

Jeffrey E. Denning is a novelist and memoirist who has battled dyslexia to author books, short stories, and periodicals. Previous books include “No Palm Trees on Cuttyhunk” and “Long Time No Sea – A Look at Life Through the Mask of a Scuba Diver.” An avid sailor and diver, Denning’s thirst for adventure and cultural immersion inspires his writing. His forty-year career included marketing, customer service, consulting, and workshops to prepare managers for executive positions. Since retiring in 2009, he has worked as both a certified piano technician and stained-glass artist.