Our crew, Spencer Howe, flew into Marsh Harbor, Abacos, May 21. We took off the next AM, stopping each of the next 3 nights at uninhabited Cays. Then off the White Banks May 25th and into The Gulf Stream. Traveling in The Stream gives us an extra boost and we make about 9-10 knots as opposed to 5-7 normally. The guys had never seen water spouts before and we all enjoyed watching them in the distance. We also found we could use our radar to track approaching storms to decide when to shorten sails. The second night out, the wind went into the north. We were all pretty tired (the guys were getting 1-2 hrs sleep/night and I was getting 3-4hrs), so we decided to head into St. Augustine. We were about 50 miles offshore in dense smoke from the fires burning onshore from St Augustine north. The Coast Guard had warnings on the radio and said they were worse as you went further north. However, we headed in anyway and were pleased to find little smoke ashore. The wind had changed, blowing the smoke away. After a couple of days resting up, we sailed outside to Fernandina Beach, FL, with a couple of exciting hours in a lightning storm. Next day we decided to stay inside and show Spencer some of The ICW. Everyone said you don't want to miss the wild horses of Cumberland Island, Georgia. They forgot to say not in late May when horse flies are feasting. We spent the day defending ourselves and slaughtering 247 horseflies. Our greatest fear, other than being eaten alive, was that our fly swatter would break.

After anchoring that night off St Simon's Island, GA, we decided to forego the pleasures of The Waterway, and sailed offshore overnight to Charleston, SC, mile marker 456. We had our first overnight sail with the windvane in control, thanks largely to Spencer's tireless efforts to make it work!

Spencer flew home and we continued up the Waterway. Spencer was great crew and we never could have covered the distance without him. Thanks to Dawn for allowing him to make the trip.

The trip up The Waterway has been long and tiring. We motor every day for about 8 hours straight. Thankfully, the wind has been out of the south, allowing us to motorsail with the jib and keep the bimini up. Otherwise we'd have died with the heat. We average about 48 miles a day and try to anchor each night, although there are stretches where there are no good anchorages and we've been forced to go into marinas. We are truly late in the season, it's hot and buggy, and we are usually traveling without other boats. There's been little traffic on the Waterway till the last couple of days.

Our worst day was June 7, passing thru Camp Lejune to Swansboro, NC. We ran aground 4 times that day. Ken was on the wheel 3 of them, but mine was the worst, under sail, cutting a corner at a mark, running dead aground. Then they were having firing practice at Camp Lejune - which shuts down the Waterway and the bridge was closed for a medical emergency on the beach side and couldn't open till the ambulance crossed back over.

We anchored in the river in a strong current off Swansboro - with the threat of serious lightning storms with hail and 65 mph winds. I convinced Ken we'd be better off at the dock than taking a chance on being dragged into the bridge, so we pulled anchor and went in. Luckily the storms remained off in the distance. Swansboro is my father's hometown. We stayed an extra day and I got to visit my father's grave and to see relatives and old friends - and to recharge our personal batteries.

For the first time in 2-3 months, I got into my email in a marina about a week ago. It was great to find all the notes from you all. I can get in again here so I'll try to reply. Hopefully, I'll find more emails waiting. Keep them coming. If all goes well, we'll be in RI by the end of June.

After 6 long, hard weeks of travel. Left Norfolk, VA on Sat., June 16 to do an overnight outside along the DELMARVA Peninsula to Cape May, NJ. No wind, so we motored thru the night. I was asleep in the cockpit about 11:30pm when Ken shook me and said we were about to be boarded by the Coastguard. I sleepily stumbled below to lock the head since I wasn't sure if we were far enough off shore to be legal. There were 5 young men, but only 2 came aboard to do a "courtesy safety inspection". I'm sure they chuckled when they saw me go below and the light come on in the head. We passed with flying colors (I believe there's a $50 fine for each infraction) and they departed in about half an hour. When they board, they don't even want you to stop the boat. You keep on motoring and their boat follows along. After a day's rest, it was off to Atlantic City (He never even let me ashore!!!!) to decide whether we'd go offshore overnight to Block Island or on to NYC and thru Long Island Sound. After studying the weather, we opted for NYC even tho it would take longer.

Last Thurs, after a great visit with some long time sailing friends in Stonington, CT, we took off early for our last day of travel to Portsmouth and Ken's slip - which he owns and had allowed the marina to rent out last summer. It promised to be a perfect day. The forecast was for NE winds, 15-20 in the AM, as well as a fair current, allowing us to have a great sail along the RI coast. Then, just as we reached PT Judith, the wind was supposed to go SW along with an in going tide til 3:30 PM when we should be home. A great last day after weeks of motoring! WRONG!!!

When we woke Thurs. there was little or no wind. So we motored. Ken had called the day before to make sure our slip was empty. The woman said someone was in it, but call back Thurs. since the person in charge was out for the day. When Ken called back, they said they had rented our slip for the season, they were booked for The Fourth weekend with no empty slips, and they had 100 boats on the waiting list for seasonal slips. Ken was very calm, told him he had never given permission to rent his slip for the summer, and he was sure they could figure something out. We'd be in by 3-4pm. Please call back with accommodations.

About then, a little wind came up, Ken went to put the engine in neutral, there was a loud clank. The gearshift cable had broken and we can no longer change gears. OK, we can handle that when the time comes. As we pass Pt. Jude, the wind picks up, right out of the north. We tack up the bay to Newport where we have to motor into a strong north wind under The Newport Bridge at about 1pm AGAINST a strong current. (We know high tide is 3:30 with a favorable current all the way.) What gives? Are the Gods trying to tell us something?

About 3pm , Ken motors into the marina (they had found us a slip); I'm below stretched out on the quarter berth, with my head stuck in the engine compartment. Ken bangs on the cockpit seat with a screwdriver so I can hear over the din of the engine: 1 bang for forward, 2 for neutral, 3 for reverse. I change gears accordingly and we ease gracefully into the slip. It's nice to be home!!

We're too exhausted (and have too many repairs) to think about the fall, but keep in touch and we'll let you know what our plans are. I think Ken should get a job and continue to keep me in the manner to which I have become accustomed. Don't you???

Happy summer to all, Jane and Ken