This year saw 122 brave men and women make the perilous vicarious journey into the North Atlantic. As in years past, there were the usual allotment of bizarre occurrences, unexplained phenomenon, and unlucky dice rolls.

The biggest news to come out of the early rounds of the event was the discovery that the Tirpitz is almost certainly a cursed ship. It was bitten by the dreaded snake eyes no less than five (5!) times during various heat games. Although, as you'll see, she did redeem herself slightly during the final.

Our six finalists were Marty Sample, Rob Winslow, Roy Gibson, Scott Fenn, Ross Jones, and Kevin Brownell. Unfortunately, Kevin chose to play in another event instead of the final and thus was automatically relegated to 6th place.

The final started cautiously as no one really made any mad breaks for the lead. Marty scored points on two of the first three hands to put a nose out in front. Hand 4 saw our first real excitement as Scott started the battle for SC44 by calling sub and playing three German points. After discards from Roy and Marty, Rob dropped a hammer by playing Admiral Tovey (changing the suit to combined) and the King George V (for 8 allied points). Scott's German card was now worth 4 points, so it was up to Ross to decide which way to go. He smoothly dropped the Scharnhorst down on the table adding her 7 points the Scott's 4 and giving the Germans a big win. Ross kept the convoy, giving the might KGV to Scott.

Hand 6 was a wild air battle over convoy HX228. Every player but Rob (who played 3 German points) put down a ?-valued card. In the end, Scott got the better of the dice fest and took the convoy sharing the one spoil with Roy.

Hand 8 proved to be one of the decisive moments of the game. Ross played for convoy HG76 and called surface, leading out with the Rodney (6 allied points). Scott followed with a little 1-point allied ship. After a discard from Roy and a "Stein-Flush" from Marty, Rob decided it was time to take a chance and played the Bismarck, along with the Belchen. Rob had 2-dice to roll, and needed an 8 to tie the hand and a 9 to win. Well, fortune smiled on the German gunners as Rob rolled a 9 and took everything for himself (an 11-point haul in one hand).

Hand 11 saw the Tirptiz try to dispel any rumors that she is a cursed ship as Ross rolled an 11 with her to take out the Duke of York along with another spoil.

Rob continued his hot die rolling with the Bismarck in hand 13 as he rolled a 10 to take convoy ONS 154 for himself.

Unfortunately for the other players no one was able to get on a serious roll and catch up to Rob. The last hand of the game saw Roy call an air battle for convoy SC94. He played Admiral Tovey and 5 allied points. Scott tried to take someone out with the Atlantic Storm, but it was not to be.

The final scores were: Rob 28, Marty 22, Roy 22 (Marty took 2nd with more convoy points), Scott 21, and Ross 18.

Congratulations to Rob Winslow for finally breaking his personal curse and winning the Atlantic Storm tournament and his third wood over all. Thanks to all who played, and I hope to see everyone back again (and maybe even a few more) next year in our bigger ocean in Lancaster.