Aquila Northbound

We're back on Aquila in Fort Lauderdale and getting ready for the trip North.  Crew:  Back from our November southbound trip are Rob Golden and Tom Aldrich.  Joining us for this hot, sunny leg of the trip are Michael Enright and his daughter Kate.

We've spent the day getting the boat ready, fixing a few things: the autopilot armature, adjusting the tension on the steering cables, fueling up the boat and getting her provisioned with fuel, water, and food.  Tom and I verified all the safety gear, ran the engine and checked over the electronics.  Everything seems to be in good working order.

Everything is cooperating but the weather.  The National Hurricane center is tracking a low pressure system that is supposed to "meander" around the Florida waters, and of course it is right on our track.  We essentially have two options.  (1) we leave at 0600 tomorrow and sail up the coast, getting a boost from the Gulf Stream, and then put in at Fort Pierce (about 100 nautical miles to the north),  We could put in there for the night and wait for the low to blow through, getting back on track Sunday Morning.

(2) The other strategy is to wait until 1200 tomorrow, then head northeast out of Fort Lauderdale, cross the Gulf Stream, pick up the West side of the warm Eddy at 29N 77W and ride it north and then east to to try and stay to the East side of the Low.  This is a little more complex and doesn't seem to provide much advantages.  I will poll the crew this evening over dinner, but I expect we will take the more conservative route to get everyone acclimated, shake down the boat, and keep an eye on the low.  Either way, we then expect to jump right back into the Gulf Steam and ride it north toward Cape Hatteras, hopefully propelled by the forecasted 15 - 20kts of breeze out of the south, southeast.