brought home as two yachts, Restless and Wildflower ploughed through the damp fog and lumpy waters of Buzzards Bay at the beginning of their Marion-Bermuda thrash.

What was on their minds -- trophies? Line honours? Surviving the turbulent Gulf Stream? Not throwing up? Would you believe evening menus? "While we were tacking in the Bay we were close enough that we could compare notes on our evening meals. `What have you got?' we'd call over. They'd answer: `lasagne' and we'd shout back, `we've got chicken casserole','' Mrs.

Kathy Reed, aboard Wildflower, laughed.

The laughter didn't last long for Mr. Michael Keene, however. Like most of skipper Eric Crawford's crew aboard Restless, his brother-in-law's interest in the prospective dining experience was shortlived.

"Most of the crew, including myself, were sick or queasy for the first one and a half days,'' Capt. Crawford admitted. "Only Mike Marshall got the Iron Stomach award.'' The brownies, pasta, steak, scalloped potatoes and more would have to wait until the seas and stomachs had settled.

"After about 30 hours Mike Marshall broke out the celery and peanut butter,'' Mr. Keene told us. "That was the turning point. We were just coming out of the Gulf Stream.'' Advance food preparation on Wildflower was carried out by Mrs. Sabra Flood, then frozen and stacked in styrofoam-lined coolers packed in dry ice. Fresh foodstuffs -- including salad ingredients, vegetables and fresh fruit -- were bought just before setting off.

With no designated cook, the crews of both Restless and Wildflower took turns preparing the meals.

On Wildflower sausages, eggs, bagels, English muffins, fruit and toast were on offer at breakfast-time, while cold cuts with fresh lettuce and tomato comprised the luncheon menus. Evening meals included chicken and vegetable casserole, beef stroganoff with green beans, ham and noodle casserole with peas, and what Mrs. Reed described as an "extraordinary lasagne'' with green salad and garlic bread.

Hot and cold drinks, plenty of water, and snack/junk food was always available. Dessert was always fresh fruit, homemade brownies and more homemade brownies! Restless opened its evening menus with commercial frozen lasagne, while post-seasickness fare included roast beef and steak. Cheese/steak subs were on offer at lunchtime, and desserts included puddings, cookies and brownies.

During the non-appetite segment, dry cereal and biscuits were favoured, with celery and peanut butter on the recovery cusp.

Drinkwise, Capt. Crawford reckoned his crew had gotten through four gallons of Gatorade, countless sodas and plenty of water.

"We definitely went through a lot of drinkables,'' he smiled.

For Michael Keene, who missed his first Father's Day with daughter Eleanora ("The Noodle''), chocolate kisses with almonds were a welcome treat from the tiny tot.

Looking back, watch captain Tad duPont thought the food was "fantastic''. In charge of pre and post-race cocktails, the soft-spoken "father figure'' noted that everything was prepared "from scratch'' and added, "We never went hungry.'' While both vessels were well-provisioned, the speed with which they arrived here ( Wildflower took overall and Class G honours on corrected time, Restless was second overall in class G) -- and the seasickness factor meant that only a portion of the edible cargo was ultimately consumed.

But then, there is the return voyage, hopefully with calmer seas and stronger stomachs . . .