Hi Larry, The cold, gloom and continual snow storms here in Connecticut make me a little lethargic at the moment, and my thinking is a rather slow too! Now that you remind me, and provide the vital clue, ......of course! But Jerry wasn't anywhere in the vicinity when that beer bottle disappeared. It was solely the "Klabautermann" taking his cut. Since then I never fail, before casting off the mooring lines, to give the Klabautermann his shot of gin. (the Klabautermann, who primarily inhabits Northern European waters prefers things like Aquavit in Scandinavia, Bokma, which is old Genever (gin) in the Holland/Belgium areas, and any good schnapps in German waters. The Pivo in Yugoslavia was understandable and the preferable beverage in 90 degree heat. When I run aground, the Admirable always wants to know if I had performed the proper signs of respect to the Klabautermann prior to our trip, and the tone of her voice obviously infers I must have forgotten to perform that vital gesture, otherwise if I had, we wouldn't be aground. Safety at sea requires that these ancient customs be honored. Connie