Having left Hampton, VA on Nov 3rd, we spent 3 days on the ICW to Beaufort, NC. After refueling, we set sails, and left Beaufort at 3:30 pm on Monday the 5th. Heading out, winds were light and 'on our nose'. So we motor-sailed into the night, intending to cross the Gulf Stream at one of its narrowest points, 50-60 miles. This first night had confused seas, crossing the Stream. Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th, we had some good sailing, reefed, and making 5.4 knots. in a smoother sea state. Yesterday, we had a weather front pass over us, raining on our parade. But tonight we have starry skies, enjoying Orion rising. Having one crew member, Peter Rose, from Portland assisting Sue and me, has been great for comradery, watch standing, and sailing knowledge. The Salty Dawg Rally fleet is all in motion, waiting for different starts depending on the weather patterns. We felt going south on the ICW for a couple hundred miles, was a good way to avoid some of the nasty weather crossing the Stream out of Hampton. We get an e-mail update daily sharing the location of each boat. Most are heading toward Bermuda, then tuning south on longitude 65W for the Eastern Caribbean, using the trade winds that will be filling in.