b'Its Okay To Go,If You PromiseTo Come Home.by Anna CookeWithout her little dog by her side, Sally realized she was theonly one inside the cabin with a heartbeat. Isolation rolledinto Athena\'s quarters like fog as the boat\'s skipper closedher eyes and held her breath. Sailing from Maine to Floridaover the course of a year without another human on boardwas always part of the plan. Making the trip without herfurry first mate, a six-year-old black Cockapoo namedElli,was not.She remembered what her father had told her beforeshe set sail. "Be aware of cascading failures; when a smallproblem leads to other problems and eventually disaster." (Left): Sallys first mate Elli on Athena.Photograph by Jacqui Silla.www.TheNewBarker.com Spring 2016 THE NEW BARKER 29'