We are still on schedule to leave on Monday.

A new wrinkle though.  During the month we have talked to a number of old salts and were convinced that getting someone to get us over the hump was a smart thing to do.  Our new "Captain Ron" is a gentleman that is a licensed captain and an ASA instructor, Captain Norm Russick.  He has a challenging job teaching me. And he only has between St Pete and Key Biscayne to get it done.  Lauren is happy.

The latest catastrophe was a leaking gland.  The driveshafts from the engines go through the hull to the propeller and the glands are part of how they seal.  The guys we have paid a few boat bucks jumped all over this new problem with both feet.  Bill Krul (the warrior king) and Chris. They replaced both sides in an afternoon.  One of the interesting aspects was that they brought a diver in.  He goes under the boat and as the shaft comes out, he stuffs a t-shirt in the hole as the shaft comes out.  No kidding.  The hole vacated by the shaft is stuffed with a t-shirt.  The diver, Captain John, was in 68 degree marina water stuffing t-shirts.  We was  a Navy diver and possibly a SEAL, not quite sure, but quite interesting to talk to.

Got the sat phone working, but the dive compressor motor is giving me a problem.  Won't stay running under load.  Got to get that one figured out.

The weather looks great for Monday and a possible crossing on Sunday.

Another aspect of this voyage I am becoming convinced.  Crossing the Gulf Stream is not something to be taken lightly.  Captain Norm told a story of a 5 week period where boats we stacked up waiting for a weather window  to make the crossing.  You have to wait on wind from the South before the seas are calm enough.  I am hoping we have better luck schedule wise.