Nov 17: Southport, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC

After taking some time to recheck those connections I could get in the autopilot wiring, I left Bald Head Island around 10:00 this morning. The autopilot worked flawlessly for about the first hour and I was just starting to think that perhaps it wasn’t the biggest piece of crap on earth when, true to form, it gave up again. It is very frustrating, but for now I’ll have to work around it. It goes for long periods without a glitch, then despite there being no appreciable change in the environments, turns into a recalcitrant hunk of junk. On the bright side, the sun is out and the winds are favorable, so there are things to appreciated, and oh, I DON’T HAVE TO GO TO WORK TODAY! My “work” will consist of hand steering as necessary.

I incorporated Myrtle Beach into the title of this entry not because I plan to stop there, but because I am guessing that I may be able to access the internet off that locale later this evening as I sail past. I’m planning to take full advantage of the next few days’ winds to make serious progress. Should weather of a casualty of some sort force me into port, so be it, but I’m planning to stay out, sail as much as possible, and heave to every once in a while to rest.

I’m starting to see shrimp boats, confirming that the sun on my back has already suggested – I’m getting closer to Florida and further from New England….good riddance!