First, I think you might be interested to know that while we were underway and sending blogs we never saw them. We were emailing each blog to the web site. Any photos were emailed to Ben, who posted them on the site. So once we got our internet going we were surprised and pleasantly pleased by the site and by all the comments! I actually wrote this blog (or something similar) 2 days ago, but it got lost in internet space.

For those of you who were intrigued by the “disco stars”, I hope you will read the comment by our friend Marc, who is an astronomer in Montreal. It follows the Nov 29, “Lumpy, Bumpy, Breezy” entry. According to Marc we aren’t headed to the looney bin after all.

Jake has asked me to expand on the Dec 1 “Swim Call” paragraph describing the squalls. We had squalls that we could see on the radar and on the horizon eight miles to the east of us and six miles behind us for the entire night. If our navigation hadn’t been this precise (or lucky), we would have been soaked. We could watch the squalls coming in from the east on the
radar as they marched toward us, then dissipated and dried up. There was something about the dry air around us. The ugly stormy weather just couldn’t get to us. Had we been 8 miles further east or 6 miles slower, we would have had an ugly night.

Many people have inquired about Peter’s cut finger and how bad it must have been for us to turn around. (If you are interested, Ben has posted photos of the wound on Nov 24 “Great Fishing”.) I would say that if Peter had cut himself in his wood shop at home an ER doctor would have stitched the wound, given him a tetanus shot and told him not to use it or get it wet for a week. Apparently the opportunity to make a difference in closing a wound with stitches is best within 24 hours, and Peter didn’t get to the ER until after 28 hours. Kim had done a fine job closing the wound with the steri-strips so it didn’t make sense to try to stitch it. With Peter’s wound, the danger was not with the cut itself, but with the possibility of infection because the knife had been used to filet fish. The DAN doctors on the phone, the ER doctor in Bermuda and Peter’s doctor at home all emphasized the seriousness of infection. If he got an infection it would be sudden, likely within 4 days of the cut, and it could kill him! Peter had to be close to a hospital. That’s why we had to turn around and that’s why Peter couldn’t continue with us. We’ve talked to Peter since he got home, and he says the finger is healing well and he can now use the hand as long as he doesn’t get it wet.

The last item of note is that Kim taught us all how to make toast and eggs at once in a pan: put the slice of bread with a hole in the middle in a pan, break an egg into the hole, cook it the way you like it and you’ve got breakfast in one shot. Ben has posted a photo of the egg & toast breakfast (and I suspect there’s hash underneath it all [there was!]) in his photos. It was probably part of an “O dark thirty” breakfast [it was!!!]–any breakfast eaten before sunrise has no calories, no carbs and no fat! [When Kim suggested this, I knew what she was talking about immediately. I'd seen it on TV somewhere before. I said it was "egyptian toast". When I got home, I looked it up. Turns out it's "Egyptian Eggs". There are a million other fun nicknames out there for it. Either way, it was an excellent suggestion, and an easy way to keep the eggs behaving on the stove on a rolly morning.]

All the best from the remaining crew of avalanche, Jake & Marnie.

[Ben Here. I've added 3 clarifications in these brackets within the post. I also linked the 2 posts mentioned so it's easier to go back and double check]

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OK, I’ve now had enough time to add Mom and Dad’s shots from their cameras to their gallery, here are their shots:

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All the best from the crew of avalanche as we head to bed.

The water was wonderful and so clear you could see the entire bottom of the boat (it looks really clean) and the sun’s rays going deep into the water. At first the boat continued to coast away from us and we had to keep up, but gradually it made a turn and we were surfing toward the boat. From the water it seemed as if the boat was really rolling in the swells, but once back on board we could tell it was nothing like what we had been experiencing.

We were having such a fine time,and encouraging and goading Leo to join us, that finally he did! Leo Bontiff dove into water over 19,000′ deep and lived to tell the story. If you would like to check out exactly where we were swimming go to maps.google.com and search for: 18.85, -61.99. It’s been several years since we’ve had conditions for swim call, and it’s great fun!

We’ve talked to Peter today. He took his finger to his doctor, who thought it was healing very nicely. In fact he wanted to remove the steri-strips to take the stitches out. Peter had to quickly point out that there were no stitches–only steri strips. Fine job by Kim. He can’t use the hand for another week, a definite problem for a carpenter and father of 2 boys! Peter’s doctor reenforced the danger of infection, keeping him on antibiotics for another week, and warning him that if he has any joint pain he should go immediately to an ER (not just to his doctor). (Come on, everyone over 50 who has just been sailing offshore has joint pain. What is that doctor thinking?)

On to the fishing contest: The lines are out. Score currently Peter and Ben 5, Jake & Leo 0, fish 4. (Ben had another bite this morning, but they lost the fish.) Needless to say, Jake and Leo have great expectations. We’ll keep you posted. We’re still brainstorming the flag representing the fish that got away. How about a cartoon fish holding the lure with a raised victory fist, or fish holding person on a lure and raised victory fist. We’re looking for suggestions here.

Yesterday afternoon the winds and seas moderated a very little, but gradually by midnight we were motor sailing and this morning it was calm enough for our swim. During the night we continued to have the threat of squalls, and continued to roll up the sails and start up the engine all night long, but lucky for us it never did rain! The squalls were constant to the left of us and behind us, but dried up before they got to us. We’ve got 58 miles the north end of Barbuda and another 50 into Falmouth Harbour. We expect to get there sometime in the middle of the night.

Meanwhile, the crew of avalanche is having the kind of day that makes a trip like this worthwhile: relaxing in the sun, reading, eating, napping and wishing we’d catch a fish. 18 degrees 42 minutes N latitude, 61 degrees 56 minutes W longitude or on maps.google.com 18.70,-61.93.

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).

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)

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.

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)

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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Otherwise life is good. There have been no disasters, spills, or deluges to report. I’ll try to find something to write about after my next watch at dinnertime.
All’s well with the crew of avalanche at 30.37 N 64.94 W. (to see where that is, go to maps.google.com and search for: 30.37, -64.94)