I return to the cockpit after my shower to find the marine weather reports were wrong once again. What should have been 10-15 knot winds and 3 foot seas are 20+ knot east winds, and Southeast swells 6-8 feet. Marine weather reporters your pants are on fire. We are pounding into the waves, Steve pushes the throttle, and we are only doing 2-3 knots. The engine will not give us more than 1800 RPM’s, no matter how far the throttle is pushed. So we have to travel 106 miles to St. Maarten, at an average of 2.5 knots that will take us…43 hours! No, no, no, no. The waves are crashing, there’s sea grass, crustaceans and God knows what else collecting on the back deck and this will go on for almost 2 full days? We’re salty wet, the seat cushions are salty wet we have to figure this engine thing out. Steve checks out the throttle cable and the fuel filters and all appears fine. We hope the winds shift so we can sail the course.
Oh looky, the dinghy is hanging sideways and there’s no way to fix it. Oops, the flag is shredded and the jerrycans are laying sideways. I sure could use 3 fingers of Jack about now. Neither of us is hungry but hydrate like crazy. Tea, water, juice and soda for caffeine. Some fresh fruit tastes good and is light enough not to upset our tummies.
Bartender, a triple Jack please !
Harmony At Sea 