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)
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November 29th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Sorry I did not get on board soomer, but now that I am, I am enjoying the vicarious trip. Tonight the Packers seem to be more themselves with Brett out injured - he was consistently going downfield into double coverage.
Go Packers and avalanche!
November 30th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Ahoy avalanche!
We’re thrilled to be able to follow your journey south — Marnie, your narrative is most compelling; you’re a great writer!
About your “disco stars”… yep, they’re stars allright! (For all those who wished for a real ufo: sorry to rain on your parade!)
The very bright one below Orion is Sirius, in Canis Major, the brightest stars in the night sky. Other bright stars to the left and about the same altitude or slightly lower than Orion include Procyon, in Canis Minor, and the twins Castor and Pollux. On starboard, the three bright stars that form the Summer Triangle are setting: Deneb is the highest, Vega (the brihtest of the three) is below, and Altair is on the left.
They’re twinkling like crazy because of atmospheric turbulence, cause by the mixing of warmer and cooler layers of air (think of warm blobs of air rising and cooler ones sinking). Another phenomenon taking place is refraction, the bending of light as it enters the atmosphere; different colours (yes, in Canada we spell it with a “u”
bend differently, same as in a prism. Both effects are stronger near the horizon, and are more apparent on brighter stars, because there’s more light for the eye to detect. And using binos will only serve to enhance the light show… and possibly introduce other optical distortions as well!
So, everyone, call-off the rubber ambulance, there’s no need to take the crew to the looney-bin!
Best wishes for a safe continuation, from your astronomer friend in Montreal and his plant-loving wife,
Marc & Marie-France