Leaving the Marina

[Kevin's Post]After five hectic days in the marina we are ready to get going. Everything is put away and all the critical systems appear to be working. I fixed the instruments this morning, there was a corroded connector on the autopilot preventing any of the instruments from getting power. I got one of the toilets working, after tearing it apart four times. Ironically, afterwards I found a big box of spare parts for the toilets that would have solved all my problems. I had already ordered spare parts which will be waiting for us in Culebra. Between the newly found parts and the new parts I ordered I should be able to get the other one working. Aren't you glad your toilets work on gravity alone? Ok, I know, enough about the toilets.

Some ex-boater friends of ours, Mike and Renee, previously of Jacumba, are now living in St. Kitts and stopped by Solstice while they were in Puerto Rico doing some shopping. It is difficult or even impossible to find decent clothing, housewares, etc., at reasonable prices on many islands in the Caribbean. Many locals will travel to Puerto Rico just to go shopping, or have family bring things while they are visiting. It was fun catching up with them and hearing about life on St. Kitts. We had some drinks on the boat, then went to a local pizza place.

Tomorrow if all goes as planned, we are motoring about 20 miles to the west coast of Culebra. We haven't had time to put the sails on yet, but since our destination is straight upwind it doesn't make much difference. Trying to sail straight upwind on windpower alone is way too much work for anyone but the purist. Besides, it will be a good shakedown for the engines after their lengthy storage.