Aldridge John - A speck in the sea: a story of survival and rescue

The Oceans your mother, your bitch and your lover and nobody gets to ride free

Its a roll of the dice if shell let you survive so bow down, boys, to the Queen.

The Tale of Johnny Load, by The Nancy Atlas Project

You are strong and you are resilient, remember this. You will have the strength to survive the current circumstances. Know that the Universe is ready with a huge cosmic second wind and take some alone time to tap into it when you need to. It is important that you remember how resilient you are. Also how resourceful. Take a break and come back to yourself and feel your strength again before making big decisions.

Johnny Aldridges horoscope for July 23,
the night the Anna Mary set forth,
as it appeared in the Oakdale, Long Island,
neighborhood paper.

I think all of Montauk felt that we were witnessing something extraordinary that day. You are able to see the very best in people when help is needed, and the instinct of so many is to do not only everything they can, but to push beyond that to never give up. And then to have the result be a miracle. I dont even know this fellow personally, but I dont think Ill ever forget that day.

Catherine Ecker Flanagan, Montauk native

First thanks go to Paul Tough, author of the New York Times Magazine article, A Speck in the Sea, which started the ball rolling and gave our book both its title and its impetus.

To Geoffrey Menin, our agent and lawyer, thanks for guiding us through the new-to-us world of publishing, and to Susanna Margolis, thanks for guiding us through the process of putting our story into words.

We are grateful to our friends at Weinstein Books for their support and all their help throughout this processeditorial director Amanda Murray, publishing director Georgina Levitt, project editor Cisca Schreefel, the entire production team, and, of course, Harvey Weinstein and producers Rachael Horovitz and Jason Blum.

In addition to the many Coasties who feature so prominently in the book, we are also grateful to those members of the US Coast Guard who helped in reconstructing these events three years later. We acknowledge the contributions of Jordan P. St. John, deputy chief, Office of Public Affairs; Eric Best, officer in charge of Station Montauk in 2016 for extending the full hospitality of his facility and his staff to our researcher; Martin Betts, keeper and supplier of the complete recording of Channel 16 communications for the Aldridge SAR; Kevin Wyman, officer in charge of Station New Haven in 2016, who opened his doors to our researcher; Jeremy Will, Richard Standridge, and James Nate Slack, who answered endless questions about boat search patterns; and Morgan Gallapis and Bradley Nelson, tour guides through the New Haven command center.

We are grateful also to Suzanne Pred Bass, LCSW, for her insights into PTSD and its effects, and to Bonnie Brady for her insights into the politics of fishing regulations.

Cathy Patterson is not just a sister or near-sister to us both, nor is she just a key character in the events at the heart of this book. In more than two years of operating in her famed business mode, she managed the many details involved in gathering information and photos, lining up interviewees, scheduling conferences, managing every detail of our project, and keeping everyone informed. In doing so, she made it possible for the rest of us to do the research, writing, thinking, reviewing, editing, worrying, and fishing that we needed to do. A Speck in the Sea wouldnt have happened without her.

Thanks also to all the members of both the Aldridge and Sosinski families for their help and unwavering support, and a special shout-out to Laurie Zapolski for so ably assisting Cathyand for other things as well.