Leaving Belize City at 6:30 am last Tuesday, the wind and waves were strong (over 20 knots) on our side. We had a reefed main & jib and were screaming fast! The first day/night were a rough go for us as the waves were confused and would hit us hard on our side and spray the entire boat. The second day/night the wind lightened up and we were able to have a half can of soup and sail the rum line. Third and forth day/night were strong winds coming right at us. We had saltine crackers and peanut butter those days, we had to zig zag the rum line making no real time. Chris Parker told us that morning we had 36 hours to get where we wanted to be as there was bad weather coming. Denny didn't think we could make it to Key West in time so we were plotting a course to Havana, Cuba, it was less than a day away. But instead we decided to double reef the main with a sliver of jib out and motor on the rum line, we had strong winds right at us but hit the gulf stream and made it in to Key West and anchored before 7:30 pm (36 hour mark). Chris Parker was right on as it howled during our celebration cocktails. After 4 days and 8 hours we are safely anchored in Key West. The wind is strong now and we will have to stay here until we get a break in the weather to head north to Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda, where our good friends Jim & Connie have made arrangements for us to keep our boat at a dock next to their boat right in front of their condo. Kokomo will stay there while we come home for Christmas.

Life is good on Kokomo!

Becky