When at anchor a light at the top of the mast is required and
essential to signal the position of your vessel to other boaters. Without it you become an unseen hazard to
approaching cruisers. Of all the
equipment at the top of Aurora’s mast, the lone survivor was that fragile electrical
bulb which endured to shine brightly for us another night. It’s not an LED which would use much less battery
power and previously had been the center of discussion to be replaced, but now
believe with its storm resilience it deserves to remain shining
brightly atop the mast for the rest of its lumen lifetime.
Over the last few days after talking with other cruisers, reading
about strikes in Florida, “Lightning Capital of the World,” and contemplating
our misfortune, we've come to realize how extremely fortunate we were to have
sustained so little damage. Don’t want
to even think or talk about the physical injuries that can result, but in
discussions with just a few who have related their stories of devastating
strikes, the range has been from fires engulfing the entire boat to total
obliteration of every single instrument aboard. Then the time table for repairs has been anywhere
from 6 months to a year. I’m sure Aurora’s
captain had no idea when he was struggling through those engineering classes years
ago that it would be such a blessing for us today. Along with those blessings have come a much greater
empathy for those who say, “We were just struck by lightning,” and what they
must endure before they can again confidently be back on the water.
Friday’s run from Rodriguez to Marathon was uneventful with
light SW winds on the nose and a light chop on the aquamarine water. “Toots Sea” who had anchored with us in both
No Name Harbor and Rodriguez Key called to invite us to Porky’s Barbecue for
dinner and after having cooked aboard for the last 6 days, gladly
accepted. Over good food, with much wine
and beer, we got acquainted with Dottie and Mark from Burnt Store Isles. Ironically we have mutual PGI friends and after
talking realized they had also taken the same Bahama Bound class as us in January. It was fun to hear stories from their month-long
Exumas’ trip. It may work out, after storms pass tomorrow and weather improves, for Aurora and Toots Sea to head north together on Tuesday. Until then we
will stay blessed and safely moored here in Boot Key Harbor with our 100+
neighborhood of cruisers.
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