12/10 s/v Trouble Update: I left Ft Lauderdale uneventfully. Well almost. As I was waiting for the bridge to open I was trying to keep the boat in the middle of the channel and stow all the fenders and clean up the deck. There was a current so I’d periodically go back to the helm and reposition myself. Well, one time I guess I left it in reverse gear idle. I looked around while stowing the fenders and noticed I was close to a wall. I thought that’s weird I should be going the other way. I got back to the helm in plenty of time. But it did wake me up a bit. No problems crossing the Gulf Stream, even though I was told it would be rough with the north wind against the stream. It was all fine. I went inside for a bit to lay down when I heard an odd noise. I went out and there was a coast guard helicopter circling around me. I waved and took a few photos. He circled me three times then went on his way. I just finished dinner and am about 10 nautical miles from the Great Isaac Light. I’ve been sailing all day, but I just turned the engines on to keep me on track. The wind dies down and the autopilot turns off. Then the boat starts turning. Uggg. I’ll just keep the engines at idle going forward till I’m in a better wind and angle so the boat and autopilot don’t fight. That’s all for now. I will send out another SAT text when I arrive. I’m still on track to arrive at noon tomorrow.
s/v Trouble – Destination Unkown
