Day 17

Day 17 started like any other ended as a rush to beat the bridge and the laws of the odds ! We cast off early headed for St Augustine FL, low water was keeping everyone on edge bumped the bottom a couple of times at that point deep water was on our side as was the rising tide. Then the GPS map ran out of the area it was loaded with, Flying blind we were using only the paper charts and line of sight navigation. Opps another problem the motor sputtered then later on QUIT, scramble drop anchor out of the channel and trouble shoot. Changed both filters still nothing, Bleed the fuel system for air and poofay it started, Bridge in sight , called its 1 min till opening called ahead tender was nice said come on, Wide open we were stroking as hard as we could toward the bridge he was nice enough to keep it open! Damn what a day the captain is beat i had vertigo all day and a Throbing head but we beat the odds and we are here ! 1st mate is just happy to be on land, So tomorow a run for daytona we hope that better luck will follow, UPS is bringing a new chip for the gps to meet us in Daytona so paper charts until then. Wish us luck and high tides ! i will post some photos later tonight when i can down load them.