Elijah was glad to feel the person cling to him. He was alive, and certainly not too badly hurt as he spoke. "No sirens, just a constable. Here to help." He sputtered as he kept his head above water. "Hold tightly then." He said, since the man was well enough and began to swim to shore.

"You feeling alright? That was quite a hit.." He was no doctor so it was better to leave that to one who must be waiting on the pier nearby. But the last thing he needed was for the man to suddenly pass out and slip back under.

Ellie's spirits too had been lifted - much like an actual buoy - by the fact that she and her friends, despite a general lack of seafaring, had come in third. The boat crash was indeed a shocking reminder that this was not all fun and games, and she quickly turned her head away from the sounds of the smashing of timbers and tearing of canvas. Hopefully braver more experienced hands would help those poor souls.

# 1 The Nessie Riders
# 2 Ketch of the Day
# 3 Mytilene's Bounty
# 4 The Law
# 5 The Carringtons

The Law [25]
(19 + 3 + 3)
Total progress: 94

The Carringtons [10]
(3 + 3 + 4)
Total progress: 86

Zechariah was still clinging for dear life to the mast when they passed the finish line.

They beat the Carringtons! They beat the Carringtons … because they sunk, but they beat those damned Carringtons!

Hm. That did not seem as gratifying as it should.

He didn’t need to be told twice. Edwin continued holding onto his gracious savior (a constable? A constable?!?!?) as they swam towards shore.

“Yes, quite! I’m not feeling well at all, constable,” he coughed up more spit than water this time, but who could tell? It was all just different types of wet.

The shore was only getting closer and closer.

Edwin let his eyes close and his head roll onto the constable’s shoulder, though he kept his hold. He could at least pretend to have fainted from the shock of it all.

"Ok, that's good to hear. We'll get you to safety in no time." Elijah said confidently as he swam, being careful of the boats around and the waves making his journey longer than need be. He didn't get very far when he felt the head on his shoulder and tried to look over but saw nothing more than dark hair.

"Are you alright?" The man still had a hold but he was worried he'd get a mouthful of water with his head on his shoulder. He paused his trek onward to check on him. "Sir? Sir?" He reached the best he could to pat the man's hand that was around him. If he'd heard nothing, he'd have to hurry faster to shore.

Lory looked even more. Gasped, winced, furrowed her brows, and then raised them when she saw which wifebeater had swam out. She supposed it was better than-- no, actually, every one of the constabulary could go drown as far as she cared.

Oh! They both surfaced! Crane, too. What a shame.

A drink on board would have been a lovely way to celebrate, but then she looked to Alice with her mouth already open.

“Any-uh, well. That was eventful.”

It all happened so quickly. Nate's mind had enough time to register "that's a lot of water, it's approaching so quickly." before he was fully immersed in it. He even managed to swallow more than a mouthful of Whitby harbour's finest briny. In the murk, Nate pondered if was this how it was to end for him, a tragic accident? Leaving his brother to gloat, Alice to be miserable, and young Miss Mason.. he hadn't yet given her an answer. She was winsome and willing.

No damn it! He thrust his legs out in an attempt to propel him to the surface. His lungs bursting, his head broke the chop like a cork. The crowd was roaring and cheering, somebody had won. He waved an arm toward the shore and shouted only to disappear again, dragged by the weight of his trousers. Another mouthful of the North Sea. He fought his way up again. This time, some helpful fishermen and a cockle were on hand to grab Nate's arms and keep him above the waves.

Nat didn't say much on the trip back to dry land, he just lay there enjoying the taste of oxygen, only vaguely attentive to the conversation of his rescuers. Something along the lines of: yer alright now.. hull of va crash that.. get sum rum in ye..