Ruby herself dictated my schedule; I cursed her, loved her, became disenchanted, worn, worked, scrapped, and bruised in her building. The staggering obstacles put in my path by the Port District became the stuff of legend in Port San Luis; I fought tooth and nail for four years to build my boat and then, had to launch her before completion: but we proved them wrong, my boat and me, The Ruby Tuesday was a solid proper boat. When she broke anchor in an early October storm she rode the wild sea for 5 hours before washing ashore – – the harbor patrol saved several boats that had broken anchor that day, but because of Port Politics and the continual harassment by the Port Master Jay Elder, The Ruby Tuesday, in distress at sea, was ignored by the patriarchy that was paid to provide safe harbor for all boats. Even those built by a woman. This is that story.
