The Sailing Trip Becalmed

Selin and Jack rent a small sailboat every summer for one weekend, just the two of them. They sail out along the coast and back before the marina closes on Sunday evening. This year, they plan a slightly longer route than usual, out to a small island and back.

塞琳和杰克每年夏天都会租一条小帆船，过一个周末，只有他们两个人。他们沿着海岸航行出去，再赶在周日傍晚码头关门之前回来。今年，他们计划了一条比平时稍长的路线，驶到一座小岛再返回。

By early afternoon, they have reached the island and eaten lunch on deck. They turn back toward the marina with plenty of time to spare. Then, gradually, the wind disappears completely. The sail hangs limp, and the boat barely moves at all, rocking gently on flat, glassy water.

到了下午早些时候，他们已经抵达小岛，并在甲板上吃过了午饭。他们掉头驶回码头，时间还很充裕。可是，风渐渐地完全消失了。船帆软软地垂着，船几乎一动不动，在平滑如镜的水面上轻轻摇晃。

"We're not exactly in a hurry," Jack says, checking his watch, "but the marina closes at six. They charge extra if we're late returning the boat."

“我们倒也不是很着急，”杰克看着手表说，“不过码头六点关门。要是还船晚了，他们要多收钱。”

Selin checks the small motor bolted to the back of the boat. They have never actually needed it before today. There's fuel in the tank, but not much. It is barely enough for half the remaining distance if they run it the whole way.

塞琳查看了装在船尾的小马达。到今天为止，他们从来没真正用过它。油箱里有燃油，但不多。要是一路都开着它，也只够走剩下路程的一半。

They could wait for wind, which might return within the hour. They could start the motor now and hope the fuel lasts. Or they could radio the marina and warn them they might be late. Selin suggests a compromise. They should run the motor at its lowest, most fuel-efficient speed, and keep watching the water for wind.

他们可以等风，风也许一个小时内就会回来。他们可以现在就发动马达，希望燃油够用。或者，他们可以用无线电联系码头，告诉他们可能会晚到。塞琳提出一个折中的办法。他们把马达开到最低、最省油的速度，同时一直留意水面上有没有风。

The plan works better than either of them expected. Twenty minutes later, a light breeze picks up from the east, just enough to fill the sail again. Selin cuts the motor immediately. They glide the rest of the way under sail power alone, saving the last of their fuel completely.

这个办法比他们俩预想的都管用。二十分钟后，东边吹来一阵微风，刚好足以重新鼓起船帆。塞琳立刻关掉了马达。剩下的路程，他们完全靠风帆滑行，把最后一点燃油全省了下来。

They tie up at the marina at 5:52, eight minutes to spare. Both of them laugh at how close it had actually been. "Next year," Jack says, "we're checking the fuel gauge before we leave the dock." Selin agrees, though she suspects they will probably forget again.

他们在5点52分把船系在了码头上，还差八分钟。两个人都笑着说，刚才其实有多险。“明年，”杰克说，“我们离开码头之前，先看一眼油表。”塞琳表示同意，不过她猜他们多半又会忘掉。