Mike Corey

Bob clambers below deck and finds ankle-deep water sloshing around the engine room.

He fires up a little Honda generator, and after a few minutes, most of the water has been pumped out.

But he knows that in an hour or two, he'll be right back manning the pump again.

Maybe sooner, if the seas get rough.

He knows that Mike still has faith in the Le Conti, but Bob is starting to have his doubts.

Mark Morley sits at the wheel of the Leconte, guiding the ship out of the harbor and into Sitka Sound.

For once, he's taking his vessel out for pleasure, not business.

And it's a perfect day for it.

Barely a cloud in the sky, and the ocean's calm surface is shining like glass.

After their unsuccessful fishing trip, Morley thought his crew could use a break, so he invited them to join him, his fiancée Tamara, and her teenage daughter Kyla, for a day of whale watching.

Only Bob Doyle accepted, bringing along his nine-year-old son Brendan.

Morley hears the pilot house door open and Bob appears with Brendan in tow.

The little boy stares wide-eyed at the wheel and Morley motions to the captain's chair.

Hey little man, want to steer?

Maybe your dad can show you how.

Brendan nods and Morley gets up to let Bob take the controls.

Brendan hops into his father's lap and grabs the wheel with both hands, grinning ear to ear.

Bob looks up at the captain and mouths the words, thank you.

Morley steps out to give father and son a little alone time and finds Tamara and Kyla standing at the port railing, gazing out to sea.

Tamara sees him approaching and points.