Position : Fuel dock, Reviera Marina, Reviera Beach, Fla

So there we were, beating into large Gulf Stream seas and the word came up from the cabin that there was water in the bilges, AGAIN! So, after a minute or so, I asked John to slow down so that I could go forward to check the anchor locker without getting completely soaked. I clicked my harness into the jack line and went forward only to find that our anchor locker seal was no longer in place. When i raised the cover to the locker, the water line was high. Again the source is discovered.

So we slowed down, let the locker drain, repaired the seals, and thought about what we should do.  Palm Beach, deep water inlet, boat yards, marinas, RESTAURANTS!, bars, etc. And the most important, 6 miles down wind as opposed to Fort Pierce, 50  miles upwind.

I polled the crew and it seemed as though everyone knew an old friend in Palm Beach. So here we sit, trip completed, boat being prepped for hauling in the AM, and the skipper and crew looking back at a long delivery with several great spots. Leaving Panama, seeing so much sea life, finding new friends on some mid Caribbean island (with fuel), talking with the stealth USCG patrol in the Gulf Stream, and finally entering the Palm Bch inlet and tying up for the last time, so many great memories for the four crew on this trip.

So, Margalo will be hauled in the AM at the CrackerBoy Marina, where she will sit for 4-5 months until I return with yet another crew to sail her to Marion for her next stage.

Florida Keys

After 1100+ miles on starboard tack (or no tack at all), the awaited front has come through and we are on port tack for the first time.  This takes a bit of getting used to.  All the various items in the port lockers, cabinets and shelves that were happily stowed away before now have the potential to become surprise projectiles. Water doesn't drain all the way out of the galley sink, we have to get used to finding new foot and hand holds, the optimal seats in the main salon are shuffled,the leeboards lose their importance, etc., etc.

One dilemna that we've faced since we got on board was that the door of the forward head (on the port side of the boat) wouldn't shut - not much of a problem while on starboard and solved while in the light air flats with a piece of whipping twine but sure to be a challenge on port.  But never fear, Skip, ever the handy man and problem solver (ask him about the throw cushion visor and Aunt Jemima cooling spitzer bottle) pulled out an array of trusty tools (including a power drill, scary thing to let loose on a floating vessel) and rehung the door yesterday.  It now firmly shuts - a blessing for all on board.

After some rain with the front, we're sailing closehauled under partly sunny skies with almost a knot of current in our favor. Fort Pierce, here we come.

- Susan

24 30.844N, 81 06.930W

The wind just came up at 0850, nothing to 15+ from the north with a little rain squall as well. This is what was in the f'cast! Now the question is whether it will shift to the right and allow us to fetch the coast, whether the waves will be huge, and whether we want to beat another 150 miles.

I have to admit it is a bit tougher to type while we are tilted like this, so the posts may be a bit shorter for the last slog north.

On the 0200-0400 watch, we approached the Florida Keys under another a clear sky and calm seas. The surface of the ocean is hardly  still, but without a ripple from the wind tonight, the brighter stars occasionally reflect their shimmering light as we motor to the northeast at 7 knots.

 Freighters pass us periodically, headed west, but the brightest lights of all come from the cruise ships, which move slowly and seem headed nowhere in particular. Chip's on deck now and at last count he reported that he could see six cruise ships at once. Maybe a few of the thousands of people aboard these mighty ships are strolling the decks at 0500 and enjoying the stars as we are, but  I suspect that aboard a ship with as many lights on as a small city, they aren't seeing the flash of phosphoresence in their bow wake or the pitch and bobble as the hull moves through the water. The same motion that, with my watch long since past, will rock me to sleep in a few moments.

John B.