Sunday, May 16, 2004

Talk about disappointment! Except for the three pictures below, all my other attempts to upload close to 20 other shots have disappeared into cyberspace. I am especially disappointed that the grandchildren of my gracious hosts aboard Autumn Wind will not be able to see the pictures we promised. I'll try again to upload pictures from Bermuda. Under way, I'll only be able to post text messages. I'll try to get something up within 24 hours of departure. Now, I must run back to the boat before it leaves without me in 20 minutes. Don't forget: After the first half of the fleet departs for Bermuda at 1600, Fred Wunderlich will post photos of the start at http://abaco.pwr.com/NAR2004/. Ken Williams aboard Sans Souci, one of the larger boats that will depart Monday ar 1600, will also be posting photos, at http://sanssouci.talkspot.com. Because of the satellite telephone system aboard his Nordhavn 62, Ken is hoping to be able to post photos at his site even when under way across the Atlantic. 2:41:14 PM    comment []

Linda Wyman works out with free weights in the cockpit of the Seaton 55 Que Linda, one of three non-Nordhavns in the fleet of 18 trawler yachts. 2:25:02 PM    comment []

Talk about frustration! For the last two hours I have had every conceivable thing go wrong during my attempt to upload pictures prior to our departure--now only 50 minutes away. I've run up to the hotel, trying a high-speed connection. 2:12:59 PM    comment []

Eric Leishman heads out the outrigger pole on the Nordhavn 46 Stargazer to make an adjustment to the paravane rig. 1:00:13 PM    comment []

Hello, Mom! Hello, Dad! We're good to go. 12:40:22 PM    comment []

To: NAR-2004 Fm: Ocean Marine Nav, Inc. NJ/USA 1200Z 16 MAY 2004 -- As noted in earlier advisory, suggest consideration of a waypoint route direct from Ft.Lauderdale to near 29-00N 79-30W, then the rhumb line to approaches Bermuda. Route intends to make some use of the Gulf Stream's north set, while moving a bit closer (further north) to the prevailing high pressure ridge for easier sea conditions. --- For the SLOW GROUP departure Sunday/16th, expect (very little change to yesterday's outlook): Sun/16: E-ESE 16-22kt. Sea/swell ENE-E 6-7ft, subsiding 6ft late. Wave periods 6-7secs, to 7-8sec late. Mon/17: Dominant ESE 12-19kt. Swell East 5-6ft occ higher sets. 7-9sec range. Tue/18: E-SE 10-17kt. Swell East 5-6ft occ 7ft. 7-9sec. Wed/19: E'ly 05-15kt. Swell East 6ft average. 7-8sec. Thu/20: E-SE/S 05-15kt. East 4-6ft. Fri/21: SE 05-15kt chance S'ly late. E & NE 4-6ft. Some WNW 2-4ft late. Sat/22: SE -SW 00-15kt. ENE 3-5ft and NW 2-4ft. ---- For the FAST GROUP departure Monday/17th (very little change to yesterday's outlook): Mon/17: E'ly 14-22kt, occ higher til north Bah/Banks. Swell E 5-6ft occ 7-8ft, 8sec. Tue/18: E-ESE 10-18kt. Swell East 5-6ft, build 6-7ft eve-night. Wed/19: E to ENE 09-15kt. Swell ENE 6-7ft, 7-9sec periods. Thu/20: E-ESE 05-14kt, E 5-6ft. Fri/21: SE 05-15kt to S'ly late. E & NE 4-6ft, low WNW 2-3ft late. Sat/22: SE-SW 00-15kt. ENE 3-5ft and NW 2-4ft. B/Rgds, Walt/OMNI 12:26:27 PM    comment []

Here is the rally fleet, with boat numbers so you can identify who is who in photos, and names of owners: #1 Uno Mas, Nordhavn 40, John and Sue Spencer #2 Satchmo, Nordhavn 46, Bill and Ellen Bane #3 Envoy, Nordhavn 46, Wayne and Patricia Davis #4 Egret, Nordhavn 46, Scott and Mary Flanders #5 World Odd@Sea, Nordhavn 46, John and Dulcie Harris #6 Stargazer, Nordhavn 46, Michael Perfit and Kevin Keith #8 Strickly for Fun, Nordhavn 47, Scott and Teri Strickland #9 Sundog, Nordhavn 50, Robert Greenbaum #10 Four Across, Nordhavn 50, Doug Seaver and Charles Metcalf #11 Que Linda!, Seaton 55, Hal and Linda Wyman #12 Goleen, Nordhavn 57, Chris Samuelson #13 Atlantic Escort, Nordhavn 57, Pacific Asian Enterprises #14 Emeritus, Nordhavn 57, Bob and Janis Rothman #15 Sea Fox, Krogen 58, Dennis and Julie Fox #16 Grey Pearl, Nordhavn 62, Braun and Martina Jones #17 Autumn Wind, Nordhavn 62, Bill and Arline Smith #18 Sans Souci, Nordhavn 62, Ken and Roberta Williams #19 Crosser, Monk-McQueen 90, David Stone 5:44:39 AM    comment []

From Jenny McCauley-Stern of Pacific Asian Enterprises (PAE), builders of Nordhavn and sponsors of the rally; Subject: RE: Media on Log 1 Georgs Kolesnikovs, Power Cruising, aboard Autumn Wind Scott Shane, Yachting, aboard Atlantic Escort Jeanne Craig, Motorboating, aboard Atlantic Escort Dan Streech, PAE president, aboard Sans Souci, is writing a piece for Airways, the ATA in-flight mag. Jim Leishman, PAE vice-president, aboard Atlantic Escort, will be writing for Sea Mag. Chris Samuelson aboard Goleen is keeping a journal on all 3 legs to be published in the German pub Das Boote. Covering the bon voyage is Soundings, Southern Boating, PassageMaker, Triton Magazine, the Miami Herald, and the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. 5:27:18 AM    comment []

Sunday 0430 In less than 12 hours, we will be under way on our great adventure, together, across the Atlantic. I'm not sure if it's the cabernet of last night's farewell dinner making itself felt, or excitement about what lies ahead, but I'm up and raring to go. My list of things-to-do-prior-to-departure is growing shorter, but it's still pressing down on me, and, if the truth were known, is the main reason I cannot sleep. That's always the way it is prior to departure on an ocean voyage. There is literally more to do than can be done, but some compulsion keeps driving you. In that, I'm no different than anyone else in the fleet. My priorities are different, as I don't have a boat to worry about. I'm squared away with how I'll be able to update the blog from my Macintosh iBook G4 while we're at sea, and I have unpacked my new Nikon D70, read the quick-start guide, and the battery is charging even as I write. What remains to be done is help in getting Autumn Wind ship shape for departure, and juggling that with my personal to-do list, which includes getting with the rally photographer to sort through his photos and upload the best ones, prepare the survey for participants that I thought of late last night, write a postcard to Mom and Dad so they won't worry, send a love letter to the one I love, get some emails out of here in the campaign to save Bob Beebe's original Passagemaker, put some materials in PDF for shipping to a contract-publication client for review, write a message about a circulation matter at Power Cruising, square all my stuff away in the stateroom that I share with the rally EMT, get to the final briefing for captains and crews at 1000, and apologize to someone for a silly remark I made that I realized afterward was a stupid thing to say. 5:10:33 AM    comment []