2004-09-06 at 4:48 p.m.

"I've been tweaking it for the last day," Libra said Saturday evening, as winds and powerful bands of rain pounded away on the Treasure Coast and the storm's eye wall began closing in on the Stuart area. "It's not bad here, actually. I feel pretty safe. There's no wave action, just a little wind."

Sure enough, only about 100 feet away past the mouth of a tiny channel, sailboats worth $100,000 and more were succumbing to Frances' wrath. Waves crashed against their sides, rocking them wildly until, in some cases, they eventually began to sink.

Libra's boat was barely moving. Tied to pillars in six different places, it only swayed softly, even as 70 mph sustained winds roared through the area.

"I don't fear for my life," Libra said. "I just fear for the boat. And if I really was afraid, I'd probably be somewhere else, like with friends in Hobe Sound or someplace."

An eerie whistle was audible as the winds rushed through that area. Salt water was three feet higher than usual, flooding a parking lot where boaters load their vessels in and out of the water. But on Saturday night, Libra was the only person around.

"I've lived through hurricanes before," Libra said. "But this one's amazing."

Two months ago, Libra bought the boat and said he was getting ready for a move to the Bahamas. Libra acknowledged that Frances may have prompted him to think of a new plan.

"My timing might have been a little off," he said.

dust · glitter


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