January 22

Flogged reluctant carcass out of soft, warm cocoon at 0530 to hear NOAA weather enticement to climb back in. Frigid temps (already had a clue) - 15 kt. North wind - seas 5 to 7, "higher in the Gulf Stream". Forecast Friday for directly on the bow and strengthening again next few days - Dang! Thought to take a look.

Beam reached with double reef in 15 to 22 kts. (weather weasels are always wrong and always in the wrong direction. I don't know why) across the reef and into Florida Straits. Set scull and cross-bones icon on chart plotter at reported west wall of Stream. Got there and... (as Jimmy Buffet said on an unrelated issue).. "That's when I saw the bear. He was a Kodiak lookin' feller about 19 feet tall". OK, not quite. Decent ride with heading adjusted windward to take waves just forward the beam,
little cross-sea. Carried on thusly in 1/2 to 1 1/2 Gs until early afternoon when introduced to Friday forecast. East wind 5 - 8. At least the sea lay down. Motor-sailed to S Riding Rock by dusk.

In spirit of our new "green" administration have decided to eschew the boat holding tank and deal only in organic, free-range effluent. I yearn to be a good citizen.

Jack