Day 10

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Location: Just offshore of Lake Worth Inlet, Palm Beach, Florida

Log: 3010

Distance Traveled Today: 5 Nautical Miles

Total Trip Distance: 371 Nautical Miles

We are just out in the ocean from Palm Beach. I decided to do a quick update before I get out of range of Verizon cellular internet service. This should be the last time I can post or email except from an internet cafe or marina with internet service.

Conditions are slightly rough, but tolerable. We’re hoping it doesn’t get worse in the Gulf Stream. There is a light southerly breeze and three to four-foot seas. We had hoped to get away early but there’s always something. I mentioned two days ago that my bow thruster quit working as I was docking. After much troubleshooting, we found at the end of yesterday that the anchor windlass also didn’t work. Since both the windlass and the bow thruster run off the same batteries, it became obvious that the batteries were shot. So this morning, the boat yard here ordered two new ones which arrived around 11 am. Fortunately, a few guys much stronger and younger than me were able to get the old batteries out and the new ones in. They each weigh about 150 pounds.In the process of hooking up the batteries, the main fuse somehow blew. It is a 250 amp DC fuse that’s not easily available.

So we are away. Unless we have to get towed back for some reason, you’ll next hear from me from the Bahamas.