Bermuda

[mcelrah]

Got in Friday at 2 AM after a perfect six day run: sufficient wind (same tack all the way from Norfolk - 150-mile days), no storms, no mechanical problems to speak of (captain and fist mate had to take apart the head - yech! - we had already perfected hanging off the swim ladder alternative...), congenial crew, good food (captain and first mate are Russian - borscht for dinner last night before arrival). Gulf stream was a bit bouncy. Saw dolphins, flying fish, shark, shooting stars, spectacular sunrises/sets... Daily HF SSB and SATCOM contacts. Bermuda is friendly but a bit status conscious - we are staying at Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club - our 40-foot "dinghy" couln't get into the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, which is more geared to million-dollar motor yachts. Rented bicycles instead of scooters - against the grain: when we say "bike", Bermudians hear "scooter". There's agood rail-trail the lenght of this 22-mile long island. Going sling-spear fishing tomorrow. Return Thursday/Friday depending on weather - Marion(MA) to Bermuda race (headquartered here at RHADC - I'm using race desk computer) is encountering disappointingly light winds. Cheers - Hugh