S/V FAST BREAK: 2001 OFFSHORE PASSAGE:

MIAMI, FL – BLOCK ISLAND, RI

20 JUN

0001 hrs: Secured as before.

2235 hrs: Start engine.

2245 hrs: Underway. Onboard: Joe Goulet, John Nichols, Wayne Wallace.

Motor east out Cape Florida Channel toward Bug Light. The piloting was shaky for someone who was supposed to have the highest level of local knowledge and who was capable of negotiating the passage at thirty knots without recourse to a chart.

1.4 Engine Hrs.

21 JUN

0001 hrs: Underway as before.

0035 hrs: Off Bug Light. Stop Engine. Begin Sailing on Main & #3.

030 deg / 5.0 kts Wind: 090 deg / 12 kts Commeasurate chop

0200 hrs: Begin watches. JG repl WW

0345 hrs: Change headsails up to #1.

0400 hrs: 26deg 02min / 80deg 00min. Sailing on Main & #1.

005 deg / 3.5 kts Wind: 135 deg / 5 –8 kts

JN repl JG

0600 hrs: 26deg 16min / 80deg 00min. Sailing on Main & #1.

350 deg / 4.5 kts Wind: 090 / 8 kts

WW repl JN

0800 hrs: 26deg 29min / 80deg 00min. Sailing on Main & #1.

045 deg / 3.5 kts Wind: 090 / 5 kts

JG repl WW

John is not doing all that well with his guts but he is hanging in there. His attitude

is pretty good for the rough time he is having but that is the way he needs to be to

prevail over it by eating and drinking as much as he can and getting as much

nutrition from it all before he has another bout and has to unload.

Joe – Patty: Off Delray Beach.

0930 hrs: John – Mom: Off West Palm Beach.

1000 hrs: 26deg 43min / 79deg 58min. Sailing on Main & #1.

030 deg / 3.5 kts Wind: 090 / 5 kts

JN repl JG

Sunny, 80’s – a South Florida broiler.

1200 hrs: 26deg 56min / 79deg 59min. Sailing on Main & #1.

010 deg / 5.0 kts Wind: 090 / 5 kts

WW repl JN

1330 hrs: 27deg 09min / 79deg 58min. Sailing on Main & #1.

015 deg / 4.0 kts Wind: 090 / 5 kts

JG repl WW. Dogging four watches x 90 minutes until 1800 hrs.

1450 hrs: Waterspout. Close enough to observe and photograph good details of the column of water at the surface level.

1500 hrs: 27deg 20min / 79deg 58min. Sailing on Main & #1.

005 deg / 3.0 kts Wind: 090 / 5 kts

JN repl JG

John is still “shaky” inside but he is keeping his watches and continuing to try to prevent dehydration and to get what nutrition he can.

1515 hrs: Joe – Patty: Between Stuart & Ft. Pierce. Next comms at 2100 hrs via sat-phone.

1530 hrs: Start engine.

1615 hrs: Stop engine.

1630 hrs: Sailing on Main & #3.

110 deg / 5.0 kts Wind: 010 / 12 kts

WW repl JN

1800 hrs: 27deg 28 min / 79deg 46min. Sailing on Main & #3.

110 deg / 5.0 kts Wind: 010 / 10 – 15 kts

JG repl WW

1930 hrs: Change headsail up to #1.

2000 hrs: 27deg 35 min / 79deg 40min. Sailing on Main & #1.

110 deg / 3.5 kts Wind: 090 / 5-8 kts

JN repl JG

Joe – Patty: Off Ft. Pierce.

2100 hrs: Start engine. Douse sails.

2200 hrs: 27deg 50min / 79deg 40min. Motoring.

002 deg / 4.7 kts FAC

WW repl JN

4.3 Engine Hrs.

22 JUN

0001 hrs: Underway as before.

0200 hrs: 28deg 23min / 79deg 37min. Motoring.

004 deg / 4.7 kts FAC

JN repl JG

0400 hrs: 28deg 36min / 79deg 37min. Motoring.

003 deg / 4.7 kts FAC

WW repl JN

0600 hrs: 28deg 57min / 79deg 36min. Motoring

002 deg / 4.7 kts Wind: 070 / 2 kts

JG repl WW

0735 hrs: Stop engine. Sailing on Main & #1.

Wind: Light westerly.

0800 hrs: JN repl JG

0800 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report.

1000 hrs: John – Mom: North of Daytona.

1045 hrs: Set Chute. Wind: 245 / 8 – 12 kts

1200 hrs: 29deg 37min / 79deg 34min. Sailing on Main & Chute.

030 deg / 4.0 kts Wind: 245 / 8 - 12 kts

JG repl WW

1400 hrs: 29deg 52min / 79deg 32min. Sailing on Main & Chute.

000deg / 5.2 kts Wind: 245 / 8 – 12 kts

JN repl JG

John has made solid progress. He still has a hard time when the breeze and the

motion pick up but his bouts are less debilitating. This good sailing on the chute is

good for us all.

On this afternoon the positive example set by John and Joe is too much for Wayne

to ignore and he comes to the understanding that there are occasions when it

simply necessary to set aside some of the trappings of a good upbringing such as

decorum, modesty and privacy during certain delicate processes and that the

circumstances of this passage comprise just such an occasion. Consequently, after

a brief orientation and question-and-answer period Wayne adopts the procedures

and rituals of the “Offshore Rail Riders Club” and enjoys all the benefits

associated with membership. Some discussion is devoted to the question of

installing a toilet paper roll holder on the inboard surface of the Life-Sling

container but the idea is discarded when the need to protect the roll from salt

water proves to be an insurmountable technical obstacle.

1650 hrs: 30deg 08min / 79deg 37min. Sailing on Main & Chute.

315 deg / 5.4 kts Wind: Veering.

1800 hrs: 30deg 17min / 79deg 41min. Sailing on Main & Chute.

315 deg / 5.4 kts Wind: Veering.

JN repl JG

1815 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report. Next comms tomorrow AM.

Patty reports Mom and Joan were contacted.

2000 hrs: 30deg 33min / 79deg 41 min. Sailing on Main & Chute.

025 deg / 6.2 kts Wind: Veering - eventually stabilizing at 180 / 15 kts.

WW repl JN

2015 hrs: Douse Chute. Sailing on Main & #1.

Finish a beautiful 9.5-hour Chute run.

2200 hrs: 30deg 45min / 79deg 26min. Sailing on Main & #1.

025 deg / 6.4 kts Wind: 180 / 15 kts.

JG repl WW

2400 hrs: 30deg 56min / 79deg 12min. Sailing on Main & #1.

Gybing angles around 000 deg / 6.0 kts. Wind: 180 – 15 kts

JN repl JG

We are now 65 NM behind the 48-hour waypoint for a 5.0kt average speed

through the water. Not doing well for this early in the run but we can only hope for better luck later.

7.6 Engine Hrs.

23 JUN

0001 hrs: Underway as before.

0400 hrs: 31deg 07min / 78deg 53min. Sailing on Main & #1.

Mostly on port tack. Wind: 180 / 15+ kts. Building sea.

0600 hrs: Change down to #3.

0740 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report (100 NM SE of Charleston).

Next comms at 1800 hrs today.

0800 hrs: 31deg 46min / 78deg 34min. Sailing on Main & #3.

040 deg / 7.0 kts Wind: 180 / 20 kts.

WW repl JN.

0830 hrs: Change up to #1.

0945 hrs: Squall. Start engine. Douse all sails. Motor at 2000 RPM dead downwind.

The strongest winds are estimated at 70 kts during which the Windex is lost but the seas are minimal as the intense downpour beats the water surface flat. Securing the Main is a circus during which no one is wearing a PFD or FWG. Quick action by JN rescues the cabin from a total dousing as the wind drives the rain horizontally from the companionway to the forepeak. Some nearby lightning is impressive. The auto-focus is called into action at one point and I hope the results are worth the hassle.

1100 hrs: 31deg 53min / 78deg 09min. Motoring in big leftover swell and light airs. Steering with the ST-2000+ for the first time

066 deg / 4.0 kts Wind: Lt & Var Patchy but strong sunshine.

1400 hrs: 32deg 05min / 77deg 54 min. Motoring as the seas begin to moderate.

055 deg / 4.2 kts Wind: 045 / Light

75 NM SE of Winyah Bay Entr, SC and 110 NM S of Cape Fear, NC.

JN repl JG

John is getting better every day and the range of conditions which give his guts

trouble is much less than when we started.

1600 hrs: 32deg 15min / 77deg 45min. Stop engine. Sailing on Main & #1. Flatter water.

055 deg / 5.0 kts Wind: 070 / 8 – 10 kts

WW repl JN

Wayne: “I can’t believe it’s the same day.”

1800 hrs: 34deg 25min / 77deg 35min. Sailing on Main & #1.

060 deg / 6.0 kts Wind: 200 / 10 – 12 kts

JG repl WW

Joe – Patty: Position report (95 NM SSE of Cape Fear, NC)

1815 hrs: Change headsail down to #3.

2000 hrs: 32deg 37min / 77deg 15min. Sailing on Main & #3.

060 deg / 6.0 kts Wind: 160 / 20 kts

JN repl JG

2400 hrs: 32deg 53min / 76deg 44min. Sailing on Main & #3.

060 deg / 6.0 kts Wind: 160 / 15 – 20 kts

JG repl WW

Impressive phosphorescence.

6.2 Engine Hrs.

24 JUN

0001 hrs: Underway as before.

Gusts and lulls and the threat of squalls. In and out of FWG and making and setting aside preparations to shorten sail at approximately 0100 hrs. Clammy or drizzling with blinding lightning illumination – cool temperature. Anticipating some real crap after the squall of the previous morning but nothing special really happens other than the speedometer paddlewheel inexplicably becomes fouled in the brief period of virtual calm. John and Joe in the cockpit.

0200 hrs: 33deg 03min / 76deg 22 min. Sailing on Main & #3.

060 deg 6.0 kts. Wind: 160 / 15 kts.

JN repl JG

A tiger at all other times, Wayne has become impossible to wake up between the

hours of 0200 – 0500. No amount of bellowing from the cockpit or

companionway seems to work and only the heaviest shaking can jolt this “dead-

to-the-world” animal from his apparent metabolic shutdown during this time slot.

However, during this watch there came the requirement to tack in response to an

abrupt wind shift. Having tacked their first Johnstone design together in early

1984 John and Joe need no discussion or other preparation to execute the

maneuver with negligent proficiency. All goes smoothly until immediately after

the tack when a rapid sequence of muffled thumps is heard from down below

followed by a quite audible sound suspected of having originated in a human

larynx but otherwise unintelligible.

Having failed to warn Wayne, who was sleeping on the leeward setee in the cabin,

John and Joe are embarrassed into silence until Wayne advises us that his first

thought upon waking up on the cabin sole was that the rig had gone over the side.

John immediately hails “TACKING” and I remark “Well, at least now we know

how to wake him up”. There is general uproar and the event is celebrated for

another 24 hours.

0700 hrs: 33deg 21min / 76deg 04min. Sailing on Main & #1.

025 deg 3.0 kts Wind: Light & Variable

1015 hrs: Start engine.

1050 hrs: Joe –Patty: Position report (95 NM S of Diamond Shoal Light).

Next comms for weather at 1100 hrs.

1100 hrs: 33deg 41min / 76deg 00min. Motoring.

032 deg 4.0 kts Wind: Light & Variable

Iron Mike & Joe on watch. Everyone getting a lot of stuff done such as hygiene,

nutrition, logkeeping comms with home, etc.

John – Mom: Position report (95 NM S of Diamond Shoal Light).

1250 hrs: Joe – Patty: Exchange weather information.

Plan next comms for tonight.

1300 hrs: 33deg 54min / 75deg 51min. Motoring.

048 deg 4.0 kts Wind: Light & Variable

Iron Mike really paying rent.

1336 hrs: Stop engine. Sailing on Main & #1.

1400 hrs: 34deg 00min / 75deg 42min. Sailing on Main & #1.

Beating to windward. Wind: NNE / 8 kts.

Wayne working to windward in squalls, shifts and chop.

1545 hrs: Reef Main & Change headsails down to #3.

1600 hrs: 34deg 13min / 75deg 36 min. Sailing on reefed Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: N – E / 10 – 20 kts.

1930 hrs: Shake out reef in Main.

2015 hrs: Joe –Patty: Position report (35 Nm S of Cape Hatteras).

Next comms tomorrow.

2030 hrs: 34deg 46min / 75deg 31 min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: ENE / 15 kts.

John sees sweep of Cape Hatteras Light (confirmed by consulting Light List)

As darkness comes on to replace the extended twilight we are all wired with a

sense of accomplishment from having come this distance to get around the

geographical and psychological milestone that Hatteras is on this run. Nobody

wants to sleep. We all take it all in – the weather, the USS MONITOR recovery

site, the lights of Diamond Shoal and Cape Hatteras. The mood is pretty good if

not actually festive. We all use the binos to check out our 96-hour landfall.

2200 hrs: 34deg 56min / 75deg 26min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NE / 15 – 18 kts.

WW repl JN.

Pounding to windward in a 3 – 4 ft chop.

2359 hrs: 35deg 04min / 75deg 18min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NE / 18 kts.

Wayne is out of his mind and will not give up the helm.

Piloting around Diamond Shoals – two tacks to make 8 NM of easting.

3.4 Engine Hrs.

25 JUN

0001 hrs: Underway as before.

0052 hrs: 35deg 09min / 75deg 17min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NE / 18 kts.

Latitude of Diamond Shoals Lt. 1672 NM = GPS Trip

0150 hrs: Joe –Patty: Position report (rounding Cape Hatteras)

0200 hrs: 35deg 15min / 75deg 20min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NE / 18 kts.

JG repl WW (Wayne finally gives up the stick)

Latitude of Cape Hatteras Lt. 1679 NM = GPS Trip

There is a pretty fair attitude of accomplishment among the bunch right now.

0430 hrs: 35deg 25min / 75deg 20min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NE / 15 kts.

JN repl JG

0800 hrs: 35deg 36min / 75deg 26min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NE / 12 – 15 kts.

Sunny, 70’s. Generally nice day but how did I get myself beating to windward off

Cape Hatteras at this time of the year? All the meteorological percentages had me

set up for some kind of Southwesterly or Southeasterly flow. What the Hell??

0810 hrs: John – Mom: Position report (around Cape Hatteras)

0820 hrs: Wayne – Joan: “

0830 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report and suspend “passage following”.

Poor Wayne gets killed by Joe & John as he is on the phone to Joan and his two

comrades in the background are shouting the question at maximum volume “IS

THE YARD WORK DONE YET????”

1200 hrs: 35deg 47min / 75deg 11min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NNE / 15 kts.

Off Oregon Inlet.

1400 hrs: 35deg 55min / 75deg 18min. Sailing on Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NNE / 15 kts.

Heavy, lumpy, salty, shitty, sucky, pain-in-the-ass conditions. Trying not to slap

the hull off the waves which is what she wants to do when she moves well to

windward but which gets on my nerves since I am the poor bastard who has to

pay for everything broken by the incessant pounding when this run comes to an

end. That is why I love to rough up other guys’ boats – they have to pay for it..

1545 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report.

1600 hrs: 36deg 04min / 75deg 24min. Sailing on reefed Main & #3.

Beating to windward. Wind: NNE / 15 kts.

Same shit and we come up with line “Life at 30” to describe our circumstances in

which everything like piloting, sailhandling, sleep, hygiene, eating, dumping, etc

must be undertaken at 30 degrees of heel – which is pretty much what we

constantly have under these conditions. It is at least good to know that we are still

being set North by the littoral current here and that the boat speed over ground

and through the water remains reasonable. I would not want the wind or sea any

heavier out of this foul direction, however.

1800 hrs: 36deg 14 min / 75deg 30min. Sailing on reefed Main & #3.

345 deg / 4.5 kts. Wind: NE / 12 kts.

JN repl JG

We are no longer tacking. We remain hard on the wind on starboard tack in the

slightly veering breeze and with the shoreline and its outlying shoals receding

slightly to the westward as we move North.

1945 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report.

2000 hrs: 36deg 25min / 75deg 33min. Sailing on reefed Main & #3.

350 deg 5.2 kts. Wind: NE / 12 kts.

WW repl JN

2010 hrs: Shake out reef in Main. Change headsails up to #1.

2359 hrs: 36deg 47min / 75deg 33min. Sailing on Main & #1.

020 deg / 5.5 kts. Wind: NE / 10 kts.

26 JUN

0105 hrs: Start engine. Motorsailing.

357 deg / 5.5 kts Wind: NE / <5 kts.

Iron Mike paying his rent as we keep out of harm’s way crossing the Chesapeake

Bay entrance – piloting and identifying the big ships and determining their

courses and speeds. This is the end of 35 hours of beating to windward.

0620 hrs: Stop engine. Sailing on Main & #1.

0900 hrs: 37deg 14min / 75deg 37min. Sailing on Main & # 1.

320 / 5.0 kts Wind: NE / 10 kts .

0950 hrs: 37deg 17min / 75deg 41min.

Sand Shoal Inlet “A” Whis. Wind: NE / light.

1025 hrs: Start engine. Motorsailing on Main only.

1100 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report.

1150 hrs: Great Machipongo Inlet “GM”.

Wind: NE / light.

1250 hrs: Quinby Inlet “Q”. Motorsailing on Main & #1 (set at 1245 hrs)

Wind: NE / light

For a while now we have been thinking about the plans for the rest of the run.

The fuel gauge reads 3/8 remaining but I know from record-keeping that it is

wrong but I do not know by how much since my consumption data is based on

flat-water performance. It may be necessary to get fuel at Ocean city, MD but we

will be too late to get there to fuel tonight and we will have to wait until tomorrow

morning to pump it on board. If we had any kind of forecast for favorable breezes

to sail to Block with or if we had enough fuel for approximately 30 hours then we

would steer for that magic place right now. Wayne and John have already made

the decisions and calls to stay on the run for the time required to get to Block if

we have prospects for any kind of decent progress.

1300 hrs: Stop engine. Sailing on Main & #1.

Wind: ESE / 8 kts.

In a flat sea condition with the boat steady on her feet we determine the level of

the fuel tank by removing the sight gauge. We think we have enough and we

decide to proceed toward Block Island without stopping at Ocean City , MD for

additional fuel and there is nothing in the forecasts for any stationary air masses

We decide to carry on and get back offshore across the New York Bight. Hope

that it works out.

After having made the decision to continue the run to Block the breeze fills in a

bit and we pick up some speed on a close-to-beam reach – as if a reward for

taking the flyer

1730 hrs: Patty calls Joe: Position report, update Float Plan for offshore rhumb line to Block

Island, resume “passage following”.

1800 hrs: 35deg 47min / 75deg 51min. Sailing on Main & #1 .

WW repl JN

1830 hrs: Douse #1 and set Chute in a gradually veering wind.

2000 hrs: 37deg 53min / 74deg 58min. Sailing a Chute reach on starboard.

060 / 5.0 kts Wind: SE / 6 – 8 kts.

JG repl WW

Best horizon yet as the cameras are put into action and the breeze continues to

veer.

2359 hrs: 38deg 10min / 74deg 40min. Sailing a port broad reach on the Chute.

037 deg / 5.5 kts. Wind: WNW / 12 – 15 kts.

WW repl JN

7.9 Engine Hrs.

27 JUN

0001 hrs: Underway as before.

0001 - Sailing a fantastic port broad reach under beautiful moonlight conditions.

0400 hrs:

0400 hrs: 38deg 37min / 74deg 22min. Sailing a port broad reach on the Chute.

037 deg / 5.5 kts. Wind: W / 10 - 12 kts.

JN repl JG

What John would later describe as being woken up and being asked to sail under

perfect conditions. The morning twilight at this time of the year at this latitude is

such that the darkness leaves the sky at approximately 0445 even though the sun

will not appear until approximately 45 minutes.

0620 hrs: Douse Chute and set #3.

12 hours on the Chute – 84 NM through the water.

0700 hrs: 38deg 41min / 74deg 05min. Sailing on Main & #3.

036 deg / 6.5 kts. Wind: W / 15 – 18 kts.

GPS Trip = 1961 NM: 1001 NM fromDKM.

0930 hrs: 38deg 56min / 73deg 55min. Sailing on Main & #3.

036 deg / 6.5 kts. Wind: W / 15 – 18 kts.

Sunny, clear, 70’s.

Joe –Patty: Position report, next comms later today.

1145 hrs: Douse 3 and Set Chute.

1230 hrs: 39deg 11min / 73deg 47min. Sailing a port broad reach on the Chute.

036 deg / 6.5 kts. Wind: W / 12 kts.

Perfect relaxation is lying prone on the bow with your face hanging over the rail

at the leeward running light and listening to the rush of the bow wave while

watching the stem rise and fall as the boat begins to surf down the face of a wave

and then climb up the back of the next one. It is powerfully hypnotizing.

1800 hrs: 39deg 39min / 73deg 21 min. Sailing a port broad reach on the Chute (very deep).

039deg / 6.5 kts. Wind: W / 15 kts.

JN repl JG

A hazy horizon.

1930 hrs: Joe – Patty: Position report and next comms tomorrow AM .

2000 hrs: 39deg 49min / 73deg 14 min. Sailing a port broad reach on the Chute (very deep).

039 deg / 6.5 kts. Wind: W / 15 – 18 kts.

WW repl JN

6.5 kts is the lowest speed registered as the breeze is really picking up as John and

Wayne get into making the speedometer read in the high 8’s and 9’s. One time

John “pegs” it at 10.0 (as high as it will read) which is ironic because it was

Wayne who lived the longest total time in the 9’s. Joe of course is developing

apprehensions about the load on the gear but everything appears to be holding up

well. The boat is a lot of fun to steer although it demands a bit more attention and

caution than usual when surfing down a wave at speed.

2045 hrs: Douse Chute and set #3.

9 hours of a fantastic sail on the Chute.

2200 hrs: 40deg 01min / 73deg 06min. Sailing on Main & #3.

015 deg / 6.5 kts. Wind: W / 18 kts.

JG repl WW

½ moon

2359 hrs: 40deg 13min / 72deg 59min. Sailing on Main & #3.

030 deg / 5.0 kts. Wind: W / 18 kts.

JN repl JG

28 JUN

0001 hrs: Underway as before.

Joe made a mistake in deciding to douse the Chute to make the steering easier /

safer because the change ended up costing a bunch of boatspeed all night long – at

least a knot for over 7 hours. And the dicey steering was soon past as the breeze

abated a good bit shortly after the change down. Decisions like that are the result

of limited experience and the onset of fatigue. But it was a nice night anyway and

very interesting listening to a U.S. Navy CVBG going through evolutions on the

VHF. And it was easier on the helmsman to take action to avoid trawlers and

freighters with the #3 up instead of the Chute.

0600 hrs: 40deg 39min / 72deg 29min. Sailing - Change headsails up to #1.

050 deg / 4.5 kts. Wind WSW / 10 kts.

JN repl JG

0645 hrs: Douse #1 and set Chute.

050 deg / 6.2 kts.

0730 hrs: Joe –Patty: Position report and end “passage following”.

1100 hrs: 40deg 56min / 72deg 01min. Sailing on port broad reach on the Chute.

063 deg / 6.0 kts. Wind: NW / 10 kts.

The watch schedule is abandoned as we are now along the South shore of Eastern

Long Island just West of Montauk Point.

1200 hrs: Douse Chute and set #1.

That was a nice 6-hour sail on the Chute which has really paid lot of rent since we

broke from the shoreline of the Delmarva Peninsula and sailed across the New

York Bight.

1449 hrs: South of R“2” Bell at the Great salt pond entrance.

Start engine.

As we approach Block from the WSW we notice all the masts in the world in

eastern Block Island Sound and we come to realize that our landfall at the island

will come during Race Week. We enter the harbor with a fleet of boats returning

from racing and we soon realize that there will be no rental mooring available for

the likes of us, despite our fatigue. But we cannot be surly about anything at this

point because we are the “Three Kings” and the world can kiss our asses as we

put the hook down in what I hope will be decent holding ground in the SE corner

of the Pond.

1550 hrs: Anchored. 41deg 11.235min Great Salt Pond GPS Trip = 2156 NM

Stop engine. 71deg 34.448min Block Island, RI

1.0 Engine Hrs.

1. Take a launch in and grab a shower and a righteous meal at Deadeye Dick’s –

swordfish steaks as they always were. The dinner is a huge event for me and

one of the happiest moments of my life. There is such a feeling of

accomplishment in having all of the preparation vindicated and later on Dave

Berg, my racing skipper in Miami, will describe this sail as “the sail of a

lifetime”. It would not have shaped up like this at all without the involvement

of two of the most resourceful hard-asses that I have ever shared my insanity

with and at this point I would be reluctant to undertake anything like this

again without their participation. Both of these guys had years of preparation

in this boat or in the development of individual sailing skills and crew skills

that they deserved this ride to the same degree that they were prepared for it.

The crew, the boat and the planned passage were a combination made in

heaven.

2. Over the next few days I will generally feel tired as hell and a bit of an anti-

climax as my “super-crew” departs but Wayne will jump on a million post-

passage logistics missions concerning the liferaft, EPIRB and sat-phone and

John’s transportation to Providence Airport and his limitless energy will get

my sad ass in gear again.