Dawn

Buzz, whine, peep-peep, hum,
'tis the chord dusk strums
Each a creature start to stir
Sense excitement, night air purrs

Vibrant, pulsing, alive she speaks
nature swollen, valley, peaks
Cry and beckon, call and urge
A mad'ning symphony, flow and surge

Poised toward, reaching blind
Seeking, yearning, mate sublime
Feel nocturne drawing close
Melody soft, for you she boasts

Locked embrace, taste devine
Juices flow, rhythm fine
Ecstasy envelop two
Soar, be one, til love forth spew

Respit, quiet, calm anew
Dawn she comes, steady true
Buzz, peep-peep, light'ned sky
Morning's broken, soft, deep, sigh.

JDPaine
Nevis Island, dawn, Dec 13th 2010

After the rain

Tempest mind, wrathful twist
Words of venom, open fist
Subtle cries, outward missed
Inner pain veiled in bliss

Self not known, turn to drink
Kill the pain, so's not to think
or feel the throb of trauma past
Wound unsalved, on the brink

Self destroy, bring you down too
Feel my pain, each of you
surrounding me, you know
not my truth, forlorn soul.

Worthless self, do you approve?
Liquid courage, bring the booze

Wrathful joy, bottles bring
Until my soul, it starts, it sings
Festered pain, tell it all
Fist and hand through the wall

Did you know I feel this way?
A grown child locked in rage
Who am I? Who should I be?
Boundless, unguided ways to see

I look to you
How you behave
Does that mean for me
Just the same

Listen close
Neglected soul
Grant forgiveness
Come forth bold

Be I diff'rent, be that may
I pray for freedom, born to stay
true to me, I struggle too
free of spice alter'd mind
Oft my thoughts still bleed blue

Wrathful mind and twisted face
A calm besets a torment place
inner quiet, storm be o'er
I breathe
deep
own my space

'mongst each of you
brethren too, pillars each
of friendship true
Angst diminish, anger quell
Share your pain, hear mine too
Swaddle, weep, sit with me
Salve my hurt
Heal with you

Feel
Embrace
Love shines true.

-JDPaine

ps - Still burning clean - thanks to those concerned and all your support. This is about the journey of healing.

Separate and connected

Seeds and leaves
Father and child
Heaven and earth

Strength and courage
Wind and seas

Separate and connected

Liming in Nevis - connections through space and time

Fishin'

Pelican lazy, thermal float
rise high, dart, fall, plunge
Twisted wreck, surface edge
Rippled water break unsmooth
Baited breath, await break airward
Gullet extend, gulp, distend
Spasmodic fit, lift and pull
Lazy float, arise anew.

Rare view of the peak on Nevis Island, so named for its snow-capped (nieves=snow) appearance. Mount veiled but for a handful of days through the year.

Liming in nevesian means 'just hangin' out'. Easy to do in the Caribbean latitudes.

Visited with my girls, Isabel and Olivia, 2 nights past through space and time in slumber. Brief moments and smiles and hugs keep me connected. I miss them heart full. Love you my girls.

Local artist rendition of the fruit market on display at Banana Bistro, a funky little hillside open air eatery with fab short ribs! Harkens back to colonial era past.

JP at sea

Beauty in the Islands

Finally cleared customs, port authority and immigration and finally legal on Nevis Island. Slept incredibly well last night chez Willauer after a wonderful meal with friends.  Awoke this morning to an amazing view from a spectacular home hillside.

Land Ho!

 Anguilla, St Marten and St Bart's announced our arrival to the leeward islands looming on the horizon in the predawn hours.  If you look closely you can see Anguilla on the horizon centered between the two lines on the boom.

Sound slumber broken by the quick hit and run of barracuda, catch and release. Followed shortly thereafter by the self sacrifice of a 1-2 lb little tunny (tuna) enjoyed in its entirety as soy accented sashimi. What a treat!

                                                                    

         

  Tuna sashimi!! Wow!!!!!!

A pair of boobies (brown gannets) fished alongside for a spell, skimming along the surface and torpedo'ing into the seas. Nevis Island rises ahead, close reach 20 knots of wind across the deck and touching 8 knots through swell and chop under mostly sunny skies. Current position 17deg26.48'N, 62deg37.33'W shoaled up to 282 ft.(47 fathoms). ETA 16:46.

Fun fact - Nevis is home to the oldest Anglican church in the western hemisphere.

Heading ashore!
Over and out.

Jonathan

Preparations for arrival in Nevis

Yippppeeeee!

Ship's Log


Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 11:28:00 +0000

0700 18-18.3/62-38, with only 63 to go thanks to predicted slightly increased trades and a spectacular last night sail at 6.4 - 7.3 kts. Stopped boat for a 5 min swim in the Puerto Rican Trench 7385 meters deep; now with St Barts and St Marten in sight on the lee bow we are on soundings and fishing again. So we are hopeful for ETA Nevis around 1700 and will give Carol a more precise time mid-day so we can have customs officials available, and get ashore for arrival party. We're ready!!

                                                                            St. Kitts - Mount Misery

Drawing near to Caribbean shores

"Much excitement on board as our team get closer to land. They're having fun in the easy trades." 

             -Captain Peter Willauer

Catch of the day - a 'little tunny'



Ship's Log

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 00:54:00 +0000

1815 pos: 19-37/62-39 according to two of four gps's on board, two of them in visiting Iphones. At 1940 we over the Puerto Trench and have 138 to go, and have stopped aggressive motoring with less that a quarter a tank of fuel left, most of which is in the leeward side of the mattress shaped tank, on the port tack, happily in the trades now, if only 9 or 10 kts. Not enough aft for the chute but doing a respectable 5kts and that will increase with the wind. So we won't make the 1700 customs deadline Monday. But the sailing is very nice and peaceful, a green flash again, all stars. Another JR special in the pressure cooker. Inflated the dinghy this morning, in anticipation of arrival - we store it and extra sails in the forward head! Crew getting on well and we are all looking forward to Nevis.

The Peurto Rico Trench - 7345 meters deep!! (over 4 1/2 miles...)

Another amazing day at sea! Now officially in the tropics having crossed Cancer at 23 degrees north early yesterday. This morning wispy clouds welcomed us on the eastern horizon. Set the line early for the day's fishing with breakfast preparations interrupted shortly thereafter by a mahi-mahi hit, only to escape due to a landing gaffe.

Reset the line with a lure from the Azores and but an hour passed before a wahoo strike! Fillets and sashimi once again.

Even more remarkable the pair of frigates soaring overhead eyeing our catch as we reeled. These aerial virtuosos, which cannot land on the water yet skim the surface picking off flying fish, nest in Barbuda over 200 miles away! Wingspans of 7 to 8 feet lift them effortlessly and gracefully on the Trades. Breathtaking to behold.

Clear, warm day in the 80s breezing lightly out of the east. A daring trio, we freedom dipped in 87.8 degree water over 7000 meters deep (4+ miles!!!) above the Puerto Rico Trench under the watchful gaze of Jupiter and her sentinel stars. Woop, Woop, Woop! An experience I one day hope to be able to share with my daughters, Isabel and Olivia.

Landfall expected tomorrow evening after 924 nautical miles at sea.

Night has fallen must bunk down to rest up for the midnight watch.

Over and out.

-J

4th Day at Sea!!!

Greetings from latitude 23 degrees north, 62 degrees 41 minutes west. We are 3 days out from Bermuda and 3 days to go to Nevis Island in the Caribbean (Your geography lesson is to look up Nevis Island). We are in the middle of nowhere!!

Caught a beautiful Mahi Mahi a couple of days ago, and you guessed it, sashimi for a snack. Absolutely devine. Landed a Wahoo this morning about 3 feet long and 9 lbs or so, more good eatin'.

Last night a flying fish sailed across our bow, bounced off the dodger and landed inside the gunwales starboard side. Tried to grasp it in my hand with a goal of fresh tobiko (flying fish roe - the tiny little orange eggs found on the outside of many sushi rolls) but alas a bit of wriggle and free again into the night and abyss.

Back on deck to finish off our watch under broken clouds and in anticipation of shooting the sun at noon - time to learn how to use a sextant. The stars are amazing and learning new constellations nightly.

Over and out!
Jonathan
----------

The Southern Cross and Wahoo!

When you see the Souther Cross for the first time, you understand now why you came this way... C, S, N and Young 

 Wahoo for snack (sashimi) and dinner - Yum!


Ship's log

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2010 09:25:00 +0000

At 0445 Sat Dec 4th posi: 23-33/62-49; 378nm to go, winds ~12 kts backed to S, SSE and back occa. motor sailed most of the night, sailed 3 hrs, added 12 gals fuel, 12 left on deck. Right now John and I are enjoying the shooting stars show, drinking mocha, and about to wake up the other watch who wanted to see the southern cross on our lee bow, above and south of Venus. Fying fish escaped Jonathan earlier, tho had it in his hands...wanted to go after the roe. After french toast by Frank we enjoyed sausage with pasta by John who seems to have taken over the galley. Nice. Double green flash with the large NE swells, a first for some. Good conversations, getting better. So there you have it...food and weather etc.

Mahi Mahi - Fish On!

Mahi Mahi

Blue-green instinct, iridescent flash

Whiz spins quick, rod been cast

Click'ty, click'ty, clickity, click.

Reel set firm, warn not too fast

Thrust, pull, squirm nay thrash,

Flesh glisten full 'round, thick

Beauty, fine, gasping awe

Mahi Mahi feast of raw,

O'er lips salted, taste devine

Thanks be given, bounty and time.

Yes, we filleted the beauty true
savor sashimi, friend spiced smiles,
sailing the blue.

JDPaine

Mahi Mahi sashimi

Ship's log 

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 08:16:00 +0000

26-05/63-18, 532 to go....need to keep this speed, preferably a little faster to get into Nevis Mon in time for customs, and we are under power, most of yesterday with a double reef to steady the boat without beating up the main in the slop, with underlying NE 10' swell from the storm well to our NE , and tonight with full main and jib set (motoring) with the wind having clocked around to the W as we cross the ridge and the cold front approaches. Not a cloud, stars spectacular, now south enough for old friend Canopus, the second largest star, hanging just above the horizon to the south to steer by. John cut up a bowl of assorted fruit including our pineapple, and will now describe how he cooked our fish....yes, we caught a dolphin, expertly cleaned by Jonathan. This time Nora,I didn't cut the line in the wind generator, and Frank managed to gaff the fish! POW

Ship's galley

Mahi Mahi ala Eight Bells
Now for the important part....How to make the cooking of a 3 hr FRESH CAUGHT MAHI MAHI seem important. Remember this recipe will always work with "Three Hour Old Fish".
Start with minced/chopped Garlic ready to go, (in our case it worked with the minced in a jar type)then take the fresh MAHI MAHI and squeeze fresh lemon (one or two depending on your provisions)let it stand for ten to twenty minutes at room temp.
Heat the frying pan to med high with the bottom just coated with Olive Oil. Place some garlic in the pan and then right away put the MAHI MAHI skin side up in the pan and add the balance of your garlic, cover it for about 30 seconds then add the left over lemon juice and pulp from the dish to the pan and move the fish around the pan for ditribution of the concoction (sp),cook for about two more minutes, flip the fish and cook for about 30 seconds, put it on the plate and EAT.

>ps total cooking time varies with the thickness of the filet but remember this is a white fish and Less is Better than More, like many things in life!
>pss do not let the fish sit on the plate very long as it is still cooking....from the ocean to the pan in 6 hour or less and from the pan to the pallet in 30 seconds or less.
> PPSS Pour the reduced garlic, lemon and oil over the fish in that same 30 seconds... Voila!!!

Written by the light of the shooting stars...

Rain Shine

Jupiter, Orion guide night sky
November into twelfth month
greeting way lit blue-green sparkle.
Moon sliver shone cat's eyes,
silver clouds drift horizon cool.
Daybreak squalls arch water's edge skyward,
coupled rainbow north of tropic climes.
Reaching lines set eager catch wind and pisces, mer abundant.
Crystal brine air sea and palette. - Jonathan

Double rainbow!!!

Ship's Log

Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 13:01:00 +0000

Our 0635 position is 26-05 N /63-17 W ; nice Venus Moon wink and a smile together among isolated cells. Wind mostly N or NNW, 5 to 9 kts, lots of gybing back and forth and now under power, which may be in the cards for a lot of today. Determined to put away warm cloths, but... John is up for breakfast today, adding home fries...better than mine yesterday..and melon to the scrambled eggs; so everyone seems to being eating well, and we wiped out your turkey dinner last night Carol. No fish yet this passage, ever hopeful. I have enjoyed endless Outward Bound discussions and Board politics with John on watch, so the time on watch passes quickly. POW

Eight Bells and crew departed Bermuda

Subject: departed Bermuda
> Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 12:45:00 +0000

> Good morning on Wed Dec 1st (rabbit rabbit!) from 30-11N/64-03W with 780 nm to go to Nevis, with Frank Alexander back on board, joining us also John Remington and Jonathan Paine. Learned that the latter two could both drive at night, so off with a solid crew. Departed Spit Buoy St. Georges 1100 Tues. with 18-25 NE, easing to 10-15 by lasagna time (thanks Carol, again, and will do the next frozen delight tonight while I am still the cook!). Lighter going all night, still rolling with confused sea from large storm well to our ENE. Gybed back and forth 3X and expect the predicted following light northerlies, SOG currently down to 5.3. Wing and wing now and may try Frank's chute later this AM. Gorgeous stars, cold enough for full FWG & boots, but that will change soon! A dozen planes flew over us last night, so we must be on a fly route. Moon up at 0230. S/V TABOR BOY left with us, so we have a mother safety ship en route, along with two other faster boats powering on ahead. All hands are well and send their best.

Setting Sail!!

Shoving off from Bermuda shortly aboard "Eight Bells"(red hull), Peter Willauer's (google this storied man) vessel out of Prout's Neck, Maine with a crew of 4. Next destination Nevis Island - 925 miles to the south in the Caribbean. 6 or 7 days in 'blue water' with a stop to swim in 15,000 feet of ocean! Exhilarating and intimidating!
Oh happy day! :-)

Vision Quest

'What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others'
-Confucius

I am taking this time to be still and listen to my soul, its longing, so that I may purposefully and deliberately move toward my life's purpose.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

'Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do then by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade wind in your sails.  Explore. Dream. Discover.  ' Mark Twain