Ft. Lauderdale

Our mission to complete repairs on Aurora as quickly as possible involved us in projects today requiring the contortion of our bodies, stretching our limbs, yanking on gears, burning torches and craning our necks to look into the tiny spaces in the hull of the boat.  Where yesterday’s seemed to go quickly, each one today seemed more difficult and time consuming than the one before.   So as of 6:30 this evening, the autopilot is ready for calibration after tearing up our berth, drilling holes, putting in the new rotary drive and running cable for the compass.  Engine gauges are functioning except for oil pressure, which is not critical for operation.  The remote mic at the helm is in place after a couple of hours of trying to snake the new cable encountering different obstacles on each attempt.  Tomorrow we will pick up the wind meter before sending Dennis up in the air 65 ft, hopefully only once, to place it along with the new antennae at the top of the mast.  From there it will be check out all the equipment, both new and old, out on the water to see what is functioning properly and then decide what we feel comfortable about doing for the rest of our cruise.

If you have not had a chance to check out Michele Sharp’s blog of the Bahama trip, be sure you do.  She published her first book, Adventures of a Once Reluctant Sailor, just last year, and as a trained photographer documents her wonderful narration of their adventures with amazing photos.  I am so priveleged know this budding author and especially to be a part of she and Wayne's trip by following her blog:    http://lenabea.blogspot.com/    Fair winds Lena Bea!