May 23

Sale items at Budget Marine were everything no one wants, but still managed to make the kitty scream. Big chunk was for new wind instrument as fixers couldn't and wouldn't be in shop until noon, so dinked across harbor to clear out, then back across to pay for bench test and pick up crippled unit (still shows wind direction, usually).

Temperatures haven't climbed, but humidity has and wind is light. Highs haven't been above 85 (that's 29 for you furriners), but lows are in the mid 70s. After growing up, after age eight, in piedmont South Carolina (too far from mountains, too far from ocean and nasty hot sometimes) swore to never again live with that swelter. That worked out well - not. Actually, on the boat at anchor sleeping comfort is usually very good and fans help if necessary.

Went through Dutch bridge at 1730 to anchor in rolly Simpson Bay. After meticulously gathering all available data, creating charts, graphs, schematics and making scientific models using trigonometry and calculus, plan weighing of anchor (no change) at 0600 to sail motorless (he said with great confidence) for St. Eustatius (Statia, about 35 NM) tomorrow then, over ensuing days, to beat down through Nevis and Monserrat for motorless (he reiterates confidence) sail to Antigua on Thursday. Latest cackahlation shows probability of this exactly 27.83455733 percent.

Jack