February 19th-21st  
                         One Thousand Miles--Puerto Rico to Fort Lauderdale

Just after I wrote to you last (11 a.m. on the 19th), we turned on the engine 
until the next morning (Sunday the 20th) at 2 a.m.  The winds were not behaving 
themselves and we had to get around the Great Inagua Island instead of landing 
on it.  It is the flattest island I have seen. It has a white lighthouse on the 
tip of one point and we thought it was a sailboat out in the middle of the 
ocean at first.  The whole island, except for a couple of bumps, looks like it 
is at sea level.  Once we were passed the island, we reefed down and prepared 
for a front that was forecast. (we have several sources....Herb, who is a Ham 
operator, forecasts weather everyday all year round and our forecasts we get 
thru email).  They were correct!!!  However, the winds changed around twice 
(changing sails twice) before they went up to 20-25 knots, and a couple of 
times gusting to 30.  The waves grew to 5-9 feet and thank goodness they were 
behind us!!!  Going through them wouldn't have been fun at all!!!

All day Sunday, the winds still were 20-25 knots and we hit 9.3 knots a few 
times!!!  The waves are still as high as yesterday and it is getting 
boring....the auto-pilot (I want to kiss whoever invented it!!!) is trying to 
keep up with the huge waves and we are literally surfing down them!!!  Oh 
Joy!!!

At 4 p.m. we had some entertainment.  About a 130 foot power yacht approached 
us and hailed us on the VHF.  He told us the name of the Yacht was Shamar and 
wanted to make sure that everyone aboard was fine.  We found out that he was 
going to Florida and we asked if he had a tow line.  He said he did if we were 
in need. We said we weren't, just wishful thinking since he was going  to the 
same place and three times as fast!!!  He said to look him up when we get to 
Fort Lauderdale and we will try.  I would love to see the inside of that 
boat!!!

We sailed thru the night and hit 10.3 a couple of times as we approached the 
Bahama Channel.  Once we entered the Channel, the waves died down and we had a 
smoother ride!!!

Monday the 21st we are still sailing and on the beam and maintaining about 7 
knots an hour which is what we need to get into the marina before dark on 
Tuesday!!!