A Crushing Defeat Snatched from the Jaws of Victory

So you know how Phil was going to fly down to Bermuda today and sail back on Arioso during the week? Cancel that - the weather had other plans.

Phil learned yesterday from Captain John Kauer that the weather forecast for the sail back was deteriorating fast and that there may even be a tropical storm in the area, so many of the boats won't be leaving Bermuda for about a week. One might think that there are worse places to be stuck than Bermuda, of course. Unfortunately Phil isn't available to take extended sailing time after July 5, so he's had to pass up on the opportunity. A crushing blow.

Next plans? Some minor maintenance work: today Phil fixed the electric winch in the cockpit (did we mention that it stopped working recently?); changed the attachment points for the lifelines on the port side (we noticed only during our recent trip that the attachments on the starboard side were at the cockpit end, the attachments on the port side away from the cockpit, meaning that crew had to leave the cockpit to undo the lifelines on that side), and resealed the ignition, which was becoming very loose. Sailing plans are still to be solidified for the July 4 weekend - talk is of sailing Prairie Gold into Boston Harbor and flying the infamous spinnaker, though Cap'n and crew have to determine if they really want to be that provocative. And there's a hint of a rumor (and this is just between you and me - don't tell anyone) of a plan for a rally to Provincetown late in the summer.

Back on dry land we still have to post pictures from our recent adventure. There aren't as many pictures as one might hope as some of the best photo ops come when it's impossible to grab a camera (pitching seas with Dustin on the bow, anyone?), but we'll do our best.