The break from two days of rough seas is a welcome change. We are now able to move about the boat on foot, rather than swing like monkeys from the ceiling-mounted hand rails as the floor boards below pitch back and forth. Today, the cushions, towels, lines, and clothes have all been hung in the sun to dry: to the casual observers (an occasional bird), Jem must resemble a floating laundromat.

The good news continues. After three days of communication frustration, “Jem Junkies” around the world will finally get a regular fix. The Sat Phone is now working. Chief Navigator (‘hey I don’t think my GPS shows the Bermuda reefs’) has assumed the roll of Antenna Man, and is solely responsible for the precision pointing of the Sat Phone that finally launched our data into space. Can success be replicated? Tune in tomorrow.

Despite sun and fresh bread, the two of us not yet acquainted with Jem face ongoing challenges. Consider sleep in the forward berths. Despite relatively calm seas (5-7ft, rather than 12-15ft seas), zzzzs are tough. To explain the situation to a landlubber, think two things – noise, space – as you imagine yourself playing a part in the following sentence. You are in a runaway car that has veered off the road, and it is bounding out of control down a rocky hillside, and you, somehow, are locked in the trunk. Point made.

Let’s get back to more good news.  For months prior to boarding, seems one of the crew had been burning the real-estate candle at both ends.  Rather useless until yesterday, he now awake more than he is asleep. Yesterday afternoon (I’m not kidding about this) he was in such a deep sleep, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth and one eye half open, that we feared he had lapsed into some sort of coma.  Initial taps, and verbal prompts failed to wake him. It was only the “crack” sound made from an opening diet soda that finally brought him back to his senses.

We have a bit more than 400 miles to cover, and have already begun to discuss what we will do once back on land in Bermuda. Care to guess our personal favorites? With the Sat phone ready to roll, send an email with your guess: yachtjem@ocens.net.

MORE PHOTOS http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Yacht.Jem/AtlanticCrossing