When at sea, the smallest overlooked detail can sometimes lead to the largest of problems. For example, a $2.75 can of SPAM can cripple an almost $4000 autopilot system. A rouge and treasonous can of SPAM, acting alone as determined at trial, forced the crew of THIRD DAY to hand steer for several days until the offending can of SPAM was identified, jailed, tried, found guilty as a mutineer and executed via our cast iron fry pan this morning.

The events that led to this attempted mutiny were, as such acts often are, hard to detect at the time, but in hindsight seem obvious. Saturday 25th Lori went with her folks to the Costco in San Diego and purchased a large amount of provisions. While trying to make room for the new provisions items were moved around form locker to locker, which is when the mutineer made his move! A can of SPAM (the "lite" stuff, ofcourse) positioned itself right next to the autopilot's fluxgate compass. The SPAM then used it's magnetic personality to influence the fluxgate compass in an attempt to take over the ship! It was successful for 4 Days until after explaining the problem to Alan where he suggested that I check the fluxgate compass after taking on new provisions in San Diego.

Following the trial, the customary punishment was handed out to the mutineer, death by fry pan.

We sailed through the night in the wing-on-wing configuration and started up the motor just before dawn as the 15-18kts of wind faded. After breakfast if the wind keeps building, the motor will go off and we should be back under sail.