As predicted we had a busy night! We had 18-25 knots with intermittent squalls. We watched them creep toward us on radar and at 8 miles out we prepared the boat: we rolled up the Yankee and we shortened the main; then we started the engine and waited. We weren’t disappointed. I’ve just polled the (awake) crew and learned the total overnight squall count was 6. Jake and Leo had the most: 3, with 33 knots the highest gust, Kim and I had only one, with 35 knots. That kept us really busy: checking the radar, rolling sails in, getting rained on, motoring, rolling sails out, shutting down the engine, doing it all again…and again. You get the picture. Meanwhile we have had some big rolling waves, so we’ve had to hang on with the rolls. The good news is that the winds should begin to moderate sometime today, and perhaps the seas will lessen as well. However, the squalls are scheduled to continue.

Last night when the moon was out and the watch was joined by 2 rabid off watch football fans for the 2nd half of the Packer game, they all saw a rainbow that went from horizon to horizon caused by the moon! The ocean is probably one of few remaining places where there is so little man-made light that moonlight can create a rainbow. We are very lucky to be here. The Packers, however, weren’t so lucky. Sirius radio had fine reception for the second half of the game, so the local fans heard the disappointing result play by play.

I have managed to wake the off watch crew this morning for the third time. We all wear Man OverBoard watches as a safety precaution. When the watch senses saltwater it sends an alarm: to 3 loud horns, one in each stateroom; to the chart plotter, where it inserts a MOB waypoint; and to a light on the back deck. Additionally it sends a signal that can be picked up by other ships and planes. I had been on deck for 4 hours in the rain and salt spray. I’d come below to change fuel tanks, water tanks, and replenish the beverages in the fridge, when my watch alarmed. Remember those awful fire drills in school? Well, that’s what it sounded like. Leo, Ben & Kim were startled awake as I struggled to disarm my watch. And there were 2 other times while Peter was still on board. Once standing below with my watch inside the sleeve of my rain jacket at an hour when 3 crew were sleeping, and once when everyone was up I simply set it on an apparently damp head countertop. At this point we’ve retired that MOB watch. I’ll pull out a spare to wear.

Jake and Leo are on watch wishing the wind and seas would abate so they can begin fishing. They are desperate to pull some fish (and their reputations) out of the sea.

We have 260 miles to Barbuda, where we will have great fishing if it is daylight and the conditions settle down. There are 315 miles to Falmouth Harbour. The good and bad news is that we’re making over 9 knots in this wind (and probably a favorable current, as well). That’s good because it will get us there quickly, bad because it’s too wild to fish. The prediction is for the wind to drop to 15 and then light and variable later Friday and Saturday. If that happens, Jake and Leo will at least have the opportunity to catch up.

All the best from the crew of avalanche wishing for no more squalls and good fishing. 21 degrees 53 minutes N latitude, 62 degrees 59 minutes W longitude (to see where that is, go to maps.google.com and search for: 21.88, -62.98).

We’ve had a good breeze all day long and even now into the evening. About 18-25 from the NE, so we’re able to sail a beam reach. For a while this morning we were sailing high to a waypoint, and the angle of sail was uncomfortable. We were flying along and careening off waves. We had to be really careful to hang on, and keeping things together while preparing lunch in the galley was a nightmare. This evening, however, we have been able to alter course so our ride is smoother. There is less bumping and flying off waves. At the moment we have clear skies and lots of stars (Including one of those special stars we discussed the other night, which we have nicknamed “disco stars”.) Unfortunately the conditions are right for squalls, so we have the radar on watching for them. At the moment the screen is clear, but Ben and Kim were caught in a rain squall before dark. I got some photos of them getting drenched. We’ll post them once Ben gets home.

Apparently this is the weather we will have all the way to Antigua, although the wind velocity is predicted to drop after tomorrow. We have about 400 miles to go. Jake just had the boat going 9+ knots and we’ve had a steady 8.5 knots, so we expect to get to Antigua in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

There is nothing new to report on the fishing front. The lines got terribly tangled when we caught the Mahi I reported earlier, and it’s been so fast that the lines never were put back out.

I neglected to report that Kim, as rookie, gets great credit for toting the requisite case of beer up the hill to Bermuda Radio. Once there we got the tour of their radar and radio equipment and moniters. As you can imagine, the view from the highest hill in Bermuda is pretty spectacular, too. They do a great service to mariners helping to keep us safe.

I don’t have much else to report except that we seem to have some reception on the Packer game. It begins in 15 minutes, so Good Night from the crew of avalanche at 23 degrees 30 minutes N latitude, 63 degrees 32 minutes W longitude. (to see where that is, go to maps.google.com and search for: 23.50, -63.53)

We’ve got about 20 knots on the beam or a little aft, so we’re able to cover some miles. We’ll have to deal with some squalls today–so far they’ve gone by. (I hope I don’t get wet.)

Good news, bad news on the fishing front. Ben has caught another Mahi on Peter’s side, so the score is Peter (Ben) 5, Jake 0, fish 3. The bad news is that Jake is feeling really embarrassed about being an 0′fer.

If you’re checking our position, we’re at 24 degrees 45 minutes N latitude, 64 degrees 10 minutes W longitude (to see where that is, go to maps.google.com and search for: 24.75, -64.16)

Hoping your lunch will be as good as the fresh Mahi sandwiches we’ll be having, all the best from the crew of avalanche.

We have had a beautiful day! We had bright sunshine and only the occasional cloud, the air temp was a pleasant 86 degrees with a light breeze most of the day. The water temp is 79+, so almost everybody took advantage of the bathtub on the back deck for a saltwater bath followed by a freshwater shower. (All while wearing a harness and tethered to the boat. Never fear.) Remember on the first or second day out of Jamestown, when I asked why we do this? Well, days like today are the reason! It’s a sailing vacation in paradise.

Unfortunately there is no good news to report on the fishing front. We had a strike that got away. So the score stands Peter (Ben) 4, Jake 0, fish 3. And we haven’t yet designed that “one for the fish” or “people” flag. Anyone have a design suggestion?

We do have news of Peter. When I last reported he was winging his way to Providence without the keys to his truck in Jamestown. His life didn’t get any easier. The flight from Pittsburgh (or Philadelphia) to Providence was canceled, so he caught a flight to Hartford, where he was picked up by his brother, Tom, who lives in the vicinity. The next morning Peter was able to get a key made at the Hartford Chevy dealership, and then Tom drove him an hour and a half east to Jamestown to pick up his truck, after which Peter drove 5 hours west to get home. After all that, this morning he was back to normal, taking his son Peter Sione to school as usual. The good news was that he had a chance to visit with his father while he was in Connecticut. We all hope Peter’s saga is over; that his finger will heal quickly; and most of all that he does not get an infection. Thank you, Peter, for all you did to help us. We’re really sorry for all the glitches that made your life difficult.

We have a rather exciting (to us) piece of information. Our sirius radio is working out here. That means there is a possibility that the football fans will get to listen to the Packer game tomorrow night. We’re all hoping for continued reception and a Packer win.

Last night Jake, Leo and Ben witnessed a strange celestial phenomenon. I wasn’t awake, so at this point I’ll turn the description over to the guys. Kim first noticed a strange star off to starboard (right side). It was flashing red and white. It looked to her like a light on an airplane or helicopter, except that it was stationary. Then it was our turn. Leo first saw a bright object off our port side, half the distance from Orion to the horizon. Leo saw it just before Ben came on watch to relieve Jake. Ben, Leo and Jake used binoculars to observe this thing, and found that it had a rotating red light with a bright blue light in the middle. Sometimes there were as many as 6 different lights visible in this object. In addition, there were now 3 more red and white lights off to starboard, and 3 additional lights to port. None was as strong as the bright one below Orion. This all occurred at 11:30 pm and at 29 03 N, 65 04 W. Jake tried to radio the nearest sailboat but they were out of range. He wanted to call Bermuda Radio, but Ben talked him out of it, convincing Jake that they would make an immediate reservation for him in the loony bin. Leo and Ben remained on watch and followed the path of all seven objects. They seemed to rise as the rest of the stars maintaining their relative position in the sky. As the larger one got overhead, its light pattern became red and white, and then mostly white, but other colors were visible. As you all know, items in the Eastern sky rise and in the Western sky, set. It surely was strange. It is hard for us to believe that what we saw were stars. If anyone has any ideas, please let us know. Welcome to the twilight zone…or in our case the almost midnight zone. P.S. It is 6:30 pm, we’ve all been on deck having dinner and the first red/blue/white object has come into view between Orion and the horizon. And we’ve all seen it. It’s either the twilight zone or the loony bin for sure!

We hope you are enjoying your weather as much as we’re enjoying ours, with best wishes from the crew of avalanche at 26 degrees 49 minutes N latitude, 64 degrees, 57 minutes W longitude. (to see where that is, go to maps.google.com and search for: 26.82, -64.95)

Here we are 175 miles south of Bermuda again. This time at 29 degrees 27 N latitude, 65 degrees 2 minutes W longitude. We were 175 miles from Bermuda 82 hours ago when we turned back on Saturday. Our position is not the same because wind and weather have dictated a different course, but the 175 miles is the marker.

We have had a perfectly beautiful day sailing. The wind has been 15-22 from the SE, but we’ve been able to sail and make good time. The sky was blue, partly cloudy, the sun was out. The air and the water temperature have been in the high 70’s . It’s perfectly glorious. Right now I can hear Jake and Leo on deck exclaiming over shooting stars in the clear sky. Days like these are the reason we make this trip.

The fishing score now stands at Peter (Ben standing in) 4, Jake 0, fish 2. There was a fish on each line this morning, but both of them got away. Kim thinks we need to have not only tuna, mahi and wahoo flags, but also a people flag. When the fish get away, it’s a gotcha on the people, and their flag should go up. We’ll have to figure out an appropriate flag for the next trip.

We never have a day without something to deal with. Today it was weeds in the generator cooling water feed line. Cleaning the strainer didn’t get rid of the problem, so Jake and Ben removed the intake hose from the generator seacock and blew the weeds out with the dinghy pump. Problem solved!

Best wishes from the crew of avalanche at 29.45 N 65.03 W. (to see where that is, go to maps.google.com and search for: 29.45, -65.03)

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