Thursday, November 27, 2008
20 36.08N, 63 12.94W

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

We thought Thanksgiving would be a good day to record some the things that the crew of Avalanche is grateful for:

Our families: parents, spouses, significant others, children and grandson!
Good friends who provide strength, love, dependability and concern, as well as baked goods.
Life, love.
Being part of this crew which comes together year after year to make this trip, and has given up 2 weeks to become a team under adverse conditions, making the best of unpleasant situations while still having fun.
A strong boat that took us through the storm with minimal damage to the boat and none to the crew.
Herb Hilgenberg, our weather prognosticator in Toronto, who cared enough to call us specially at 9:00 am at the height of the storm to see how we were faring and offer words of encouragement.
Jamie Freitas, VP of DePaul Diesel, who, with the help of multiple calls on a satellite phone, was able to turn 4 novices without specialized tools into diesel mechanics capable of rebuilding an engine to run while in the middle of the Atlantic.
All those waves that washed off the transom so Pierre wouldn’t have to.
A breeze where none was predicted.
The opportunity to open a hatch, and a fan for when we can’t.
Sunshine and the warm breezes of the Caribbean.
Our arrival Friday night in Antigua.

We have one piece of news: a 100 pound sailfish just spooled us. Leo gave it his best, but when there is no line left on the reel, there isn’t a lot more to do. So the score is Peter 2, Jake 1, fish 1.

Our plan is to have our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday at anchor in Falmouth Harbour.

All the best for Thanksgiving from the crew of Avalanche.
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Wednesday, November 26, 2008
22 06.28N, 63 50.67W

Hello Everybody!

I’m pleased to report that the biggest news today is that Pierre caught Mahi #3 on Peter’s side. So the fishing contest score is Peter (and Pierre) 2, Jake (and Leo) 1. As a result of yesterday’s catch we had wonderful mahi sandwiches for lunch and baked Mahi for dinner that drew rave reviews. The third fish is in the freezer so Leo can make “fish water” (fish in a kind of savory broth) for us later.

The only other excitement was the rain Leo and I sat through on our watch; followed by lots of clouds, overcast and squalls keeping pace just east of us, but never hitting us. The good news is that tonight is the first night that we haven’t had to wear foul weather gear to keep either warm or dry (with the exception of this very minute when it is raining on Jake & Pierre).

After a really great effort on the part of the crew yesterday, the engine has been running beatifully! However, as a result of that effort and the long day everybody was pretty tired today. The guys all showered on the back deck, but Danielle and I are still holding out for warmer weather and sunshine. And that is about all the news to report.

As for observations: This trip has been unlike any other we’ve made. The cold temperature and strong winds leaving Jamestown were not unusual, but the rest of the weather has been. Normally we are able to avoid anything like the winds and waves in the storm, but it formed unexpectedly in a location near us. Since then we have had a cold front, which has kept us in foul weather gear to keep out the wind and protect us from the splash of waves until just a day or so ago, when we were able to be on deck off watch during the day without it. Usually once we get south of Bermuda we are able to be in shorts or swim suits all day with only a windbreaker or fleece at night (if that), but not yet this trip. We’re hoping that will be the case tomorrow!

Because of a number of factors, we will be approaching Antigua from a slightly more western angle than usual. That means Pierre will probably get a look at Anguilla, St. Martin, and St. Barts, plus St.Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat. It looks as if we’ll arrive in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua Friday night or in the wee hours of Saturday, so we’ll pass some of the northern islands in the daylight and might even have some good fishing.

All the best from the crew of Avalanche, hoping for sunny skies, warm weather and showers on the back deck for all!