The Dutch by Richard E. Schultz

believed there was an additional day of creation in which Allah; (their name for God) built a perfect sailboat which could travel directly into the wind. On that extra day, Allah used this perfect vessel to sail all the rivers and oceans of the world admiring his labor. Allah so enjoyed sailing into the wind, water, and weather of the earth He created, that He took the sailboat with him upon returning to Heaven. The matron held that Arab sailors believed Allah had left mankind with the ability to recreate the vessel, but only for the purpose of sharing the Lord’s sheer love of sailing. Johanna truly believed the perfect craft could never be duplicated by shipbuilders trying to transport people, move cargo or make war. It could only be built by a craftsman who wanted to experience the same pleasure the Lord felt on this eighth day, sailing for the pure pleasure of sailing. Johanna believed the quest to build this perfect ship could begin in Holland with the right shipwright and at times in the past thought her late husband Claus might have been the one, had he just a little more faith in the parable.
    To Henri, the idea of a God building a perfect sailboat seemed absurd. Particularly since Henri had already turned away from the very concept of an existing deity. Yet despite himself, Henri couldn’t resist thoughts of using his skills to improve on “God’s” perfect design. Henri felt that if God did exist, the Almighty had proved Himself flawed when he took his good parents. Such a flawed God would have made other mistakes, even with the design of a supposedly perfect sailboat. The very essence of Henri’s creative nature told him he could correct some if not all of His mistakes. Almost immediately, Henri was ashamed of his own thoughts. He knew he could never share Johanna Rudderman’s reverence toward God but he might share her vision of building the perfect sailing craft. Looking back, Henri; often thought that by the grace of someone’s God, the discussion with the saintly matron turned to more practical things.
    Johanna told him candidly that eventually the shipyard must be sold if she was to retain her home and she had a plan, at least for the immediate future. She would obtain a shipwright capable of finishing the Kaags her husband had begun. A substantial profit could be made by completing the eight hulls that Claus’s death had left unfinished. Johanna was positive these last of the Rudderman Kaags would bring a high price in the marketplace.
    However Johanna wasn’t sure about Henri: She, like many in the maritime community, considered him a brilliant young shipwright destined for great accomplishments, but had certain misgivings. Johanna expressed her fears that Henri lacked the necessary experience building smaller crafts and feared he knew little about the intricacies of their sails and riggings. Henri instantly realized that even the most experienced master shipbuilder would have limited knowledge of river boat sails and the methods used in attaching them. During the mid-sixteenth century, the Dutch were developing a modern shipbuilding industry which meant a master shipwright no longer built an entire ship. His task was confined to shaping a sturdy hull and securing masts set down in the right proportion to the keel. On ocean going vessels, a sail maker, not the shipbuilder, was responsible for adding a topmast and a bowsprit as he designed an appropriate configuration of sails for the nearly completed vessel. The job of rigging those sails for the best advantage at sea fell to the crew that prepared the ship for its maiden voyage.
    Henri sensed that Johanna Rudderman was testing him and he felt he was about to fail that test. The matron really wanted to know his overall understanding of the true art of shipbuilding. From within his anxiety, he suddenly remembered his drawing skills and the variety of ships and sails he had once sketched for his parents. Henri confidently