I had meant to add that a symposium on Patrick O'Brian and his works will be held at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut this Sunday, May 4. I have a conflicting engagement, else I'd be there. It promises to be great.

Link to Mystic Seaport webpage, with travel instructions & etc.: http://www.visitmysticseaport.com/

Link to the page on the symposium (which includes a link to a PDF file giving the schedule of events):
http://www.mysticseaport.org/flash/showart.cfm?mad=1011