This post and the following two posts were delayed by absence of internet. Sometimes it said we were connected, but it didn’t function or gave up in the middle of loading photos. I attributed the problems to being out in the middle of nowhere; Chris pointed out it’s a satellite dish; so I don’t know. But as of February 19 it’s finally up again.

We have new players at bridge from the contingent who embarked at Valpariso; most of these will disembark in Sydney, Australia.  Michael discontinued the ‘advanced beginner’ class and promoted them to ‘intermediate’ as he does a ‘rank beginner’ class for new arrivals.  Many of the folk who were attending the ‘advanced beginner’ and ‘intermediate’ classes moved also from playing ‘social’ bridge to duplicate.  We, therefore, have more players in duplicate—back to 6-8 tables rather than 4-5.  It means 2 boards to a round rather than 3 and the game is slower, both because people move more and because the new players are more tentative and slower.  But the newly promoted seem to be enjoying duplicate and feeling less intimidated by the whole idea.