0715 - 46.14.0'N x 72.46.18'W

Exciting news! We have news! Our pilots that came on board this morning brought the early-bird newspaper with them. We normally go long periods without detailed news, but as of late the crew has been yearning for some word from outside. Why? The World Cup! - A now-dominant theme to our coffee break conversations, which, in the absence of detailed news have been littered with speculation instead. Therefore, it was not long before Ewout "Woody" Van Grondelle had the sports section sprawled onto the poop deck to thoroughly peruse the soccer scores. Now we can update the chalkboard outside the galley that is keeping track of the teams representing several of our nationalities on board, including (besides the Netherlands) the United States, South Africa and France.

Before this timely "delivery" of Canada's "The Globe and Mail", we had been following the World Cup by catching the contest results over our shortwave radio at sea via a station called the Dutch World Service. Even though team Netherlands has advanced to the second round, the Dutch on board are reserving their enthusiasm and expectations. (Not at all like the unabashed hopefulness Chicago has for its Cubs baseball team - despite an achingly long century of ever-perpetuating disappointment).

I asked the mate, Harko Lambarts, if we would have a party if the Netherlands does well in the World Cup; he says that we will, "if they win everything." Now that his statement has been published in the logbook for the record, (where it can not be retracted) all we simply need now is a Dutch win and voila! Big party! (If the US wins then I will make a party for myself!)

Meanwhile, we are steaming down the St. Lawrence River on a calm and very sunny morning. A relief of fair weather welcomed by all - but no two more than Rensje, who wants to serve her meals on deck again and Tom who needs sunshine to dry his varnish. Yesterday evening was the re-inauguration of our daily ritual of a good meal on deck while we foolishly poke the drying varnish on our deck benches to see where we can sit. We thoroughly enjoyed our steak, potatoes and ratatouille (divine meal!) as we motored past picturesque Quebec City. The lively banter on deck, smiles and camera snapshots whirring were a welcome contrast to our more quiet, sombre meals in a chilled deckhouse. It is amazing what some new sunshine can do to the mood of the crew - We will enter Montreal today in good spirits.

Our topsails were able to be set yesterday afternoon. It was not until later in the night when the wind from our stern died down that the sails started backing and were taken in. A curious sight during dinner; our speed forward matched the speed of the wind coming from behind - therefore we could feel no wind, the flags hung limp, yet the topsails did not "back" full with wind from the wrong side - a strange equilibrium of forces.

We have been in awe of the natural beauty of Quebec. Like the velvet curtain before the grand stage show, the thick, sunlight-strewn, morning fog of yesterday teased our senses with momentary glimpses of pine-capped hilltops with rocky shores and cliffs spotted with lichen, strewn and scattered like encrusted emerald gems. The fog was so thick at times that it would have been impossible to see that we were cruising right past these tall hills and those of us on deck could not see the cargo ships passing us by in close proximity - but we could hear their foghorns! Then, at times the fog would suddenly and quite literally, be pulled away - the veil lifted and the beauty behind shown, but often for only a few minutes before the curtain was drawn to a close again. It was not until mid-afternoon that the sun finally chased away the tricky, teasing fog.

Now the hills have given way to flatter lands; homes, churches, industry, and the occasional small city are crowding the space once occupied almost solely by trees. The once blue-gray river has given way to green and brown as the St. Lawrence River narrows and we finish the final stretch before a stop in Montreal.

 By Matthew Maples