September 30, 2003, Dania, FL

It's time to do the bottom again. By my calculation, this will be the 24'th time. If any of you guys are available, the fun begins at Playboy Boatyard in Dania on Thursday morning. Have spent the summer here at Marina Bay which is up the New River in Ft. Laud., a sheltered "hurricane hole" just on the west side of I 95. Have completed the installation of a new engine, 35 hp, 4 cyl diesel, 10 more hp than the old one, and will be installing a three-bladed prop when hauled. This will help me motor faster, but surely will slow down the sailing. The mast is also being taken out for it's ten year inspection; the stays and shrouds need to have new heads formed to eliminate possible weakness from years of fatigue. Expect to be out of the water for about a week and then spend the rest of Oct in Hollywood in a slip directly across the street from Hollywood Beach. Then the cruise down to the Keys during Nov and finally arriving back in Marathon for Christmas.

The club here at Marina Bay has just opened up this great internet room; if it had opened sooner, I would have had more of a chance to be in touch. However, Jane has just returned and we will have Internet access using her laptop while in Hollywood. The club also has a great swimming pool so between that and trips to the beach it has been possible to beat the 90-95 deg. weather most days. All in all it's been a great summer but I'm looking forward to getting on the move again.

Ken