Middle of Nowhere

As you have doubtless deduced, I was not able to get an internet connection as I passed St. Joseph Point around midnight last night. My track to Tampa Bay will keep me about 70 miles offshore, so I’ll have to send one fat (phat?) update one I reach my next stop, St. Pete sometime in the p.m. tomorrow (Sunday).

Last night was another long one. Rather than going to sleep after passing St. Joseph Point I found myself having to wend my way through a small fishing fleet working the banks south of the point. The thick fog and the fishermen’s steadfast refusal to answer radio calls made for a few stressful hours, but in the end everything worked out fine and I was able to commence 22 minute naps at around 4:00 this morning. As I write it is nearly lunch time and the fog is starting to burn off. I’m eager to secure the radar as it sucks a lot of electricity from the batteries.

Having an autopilot makes a huge difference. It is so nice to be able to move around the boat taking care of the myriad little items that require attention, not the least of which is meal preparation.

Today was so much better than yesterday. I didn’t have to fix anything and the winds were nearly perfect. They blew 10-13 knots out of the west and are to veer to the north after midnight. I really couldn’t have asked for more. As there was nothing to fix and little in the way of sail tweaking to do, I busied myself reading a book Mom gave me for Christmas. It is Rainbow’s End by Lauren St. John and describes the author’s life growing up on a farm in Africa. So far it is terrific and has brought back many memories, fond and otherwise.

I have not seen another boat since leaving the fishing fleet behind early this morning. This, combined with good winds and no fog, should make for a relatively peaceful night of 22-minute naps. I’m very much looking forward to some real sleep when I get to St. Pete tomorrow.