Noah was determined to do his very best. He knew a little about boats since some of his childhood friends had been fishermen's children and they had taken him on boat trips now and then.

It was long ago however, and so he was happy to listen to Mr. Benjamin for orders. He too eyed the strangely attired newcomer with suspicion, but he soon focused again on the task at hand, holding this rope to keep the boom and sail steady against the wind until they had to be moved to a different position.

That was to say, he focused on it, until his attention was drawn by a disturbance on some of the other boats. He looked. He let go of the rope. Immediately the sail and its boom to swung round dangerously across the deck.