Let me tell you about the Seven Seas Cruising Association (www.ssca.org), especially about Joan in Norfolk area. She was tracking the boats int he Caribbean 1500 as we left Hampton, worried about the weather. When Joan saw that Sunrise had gone in at the Oregon Inlet, she called us on our cell phone (where did she get the number?). Hearing our story, she immediately offered to drive down with "warm milk and cookies, if that is what you need."

As it turns out, she put us in touch with local sailors, who put us in touch with a sailing couple who lives here. They invited us to dinner and offered the house to Bill while the girls were up in VA. (They return around the 1st, so now we have to find some housing for the whole family.)

Joan also put us in touch with a marine surveyors who specializes in fiberglass to make sure we didn't miss anything.

Joan also drove down from the Norfolk area to pick Lara and Isobel up, and brought them home to her house for dinner and the night... then took Lara to a car rental place so she could drive to Onancock VA to be with her family.

I am so proud to be part of the Seven Seas Cruising Association and can't wait to fly their burgee and "pay it forward". Thanks to Joan and those who she put us in touch with. We really feel that we have an extended family out there.