And the story goes like this:
Two people (Captain Todd & 1st Mate Sherry) armed and dangerous with all the appropriate paperwork to exit one country (Mexico) and enter another country (States, Fl.) They set out on whats suppose to be a good 3 day, 2 night 350 nautical mile sail, but as we all know it never happens the way it's suppose to when you sail. The winds are suppose to be 10-15 knots of wind coming out of the east, south east with small seas of 1.6 meters. The winds were right but the seas were not. They started out at 07:45 hrs on Wednesday headed out the bay and proceeded north, main sail up with 2 reefs until they can check the forecast out for themselves. Off they go wind right on the nose (also known as beating windward) , seas 3 meters all 30,000 lbs crashing through the waves which were 6-7 seconds apart. The day goes by and night time falls, crew is sleepy but can't sleep off there watch to lumpy, so they sit in the cockpit looking at the seas, stars, moon and each other, "you awake" yup, "you awake" yup. Wind starts to pick up radar shows a small disturbance, zip up cockpit, rain falls, then stops, go 2 nautical miles rain starts again, a few minutes later rain stops. Big wind comes out of know where blows boat over on port side to 35 degrees heel, they look at each other no words spoken yet they both know what the other is thinking. Short time later (10 min.) the wind stops singing and back to normal no more white knuckles. Morning breaks seas are 3.5-5 meters (5-6 sec. Apart) wind still on the nose now it's like a roller coaster but not knowing how your going to land, sometimes good other times bow digs into the water at the bottom. As the day progresses the seas get calm 1/2 meter and the wind die down 5-10 knots finally. The fishing rod comes out, no luck. Camera comes out few pictures taken, night time starts to fall again crew thinks ah nice sail. Wind build to 15-20 knots seas build to 5 meters very lumpy, callouses build on hands from holding on boat crashes through waves, once again no sleep. Crew wore out needs sleep. 1st mate ask captain "how long to Key West Fl. Captain: 7-8 hrs depending on speed, weather etc. 1st mate excited, 2 hrs later engine dies captain goes below deck no immediate fix, 1st mate goes out raises stay sail, sail jams halfway up, comes back to cockpit and tries to keep heading of 55 degrees T. engine starts, all excited, engine dies 3 hrs go by big seas strong current so were going backwards even though it shows were doing 3.6 knots. Captain seasick from head down ass up in engine compartment smelling diesel fumes. Still no apparent fix. Call Tow Boat US on VHF radio no answer, call Coast Guard, they take all info and they call Tow Boat US $1750.00 usd to tow us in to Key West (forget that)(I knew I should have renewed my membership) Once again, captain head down ass up try to get engine running, seasick again go check side of boat out then back down below get engine running (fuel pump issues) and not transferring fuel from one tank to the other 1st mate siphons diesel from one tank to the other. Ya underway, crew happy. 2 nautical miles from the ships channel at Key West engine dies again, crew look at each other few choice words spoken. Engine starts again, get moving, turn into the wind drop main sail but not stay sail, still jammed. Get to anchorage drop anchor,Safe and sound . Captains remarks "I would get out and kiss the ground but I would probably drown. Call Customs check in by phone and then call family, have stiff drink it's now 23:00 hrs and we go to bed. 1st mate up at 04:30 hrs check anchor go back to bed. 1st mate up at 06:30 hrs make coffee and tea, 1st mate goes up in Bosun's chair to bring stay sail down, very windy so wrap legs around rigging to hold on get stay sail down, tidy up sails and get covers on, hoist anchor and move to mooring ball as storm is coming in (Alberta Clipper) hook up to mooring ball, go to airport to finish checking in with Customs and get cruising permit, go have Sushi come back to boat at 21:00 hrs wind blowing, go to bed. 1st mate gets up at 04:30 again check on mooring ball and double lines all is good, back to bed. 1st mate up at 06:30 hrs make coffee & tea wind blowing like stink. Sit back enjoy coffee & tea lick our wounds and bruised body from our voyage. Sit in cockpit winds are now at 28 knots out of the north suppose to get 30-35 gusting to 40 plus knots. Crew hopes mooring ball and double lines hold.
Isn't this the life

The story continues: It's now time to start the generator to charge the batteries on the boat, 1st mate goes below deck and gets everything ready, Captain starts generator, generator stops, tries to start again, pulls cord out of generator many choice words said 1st mate hides, to late to fix we sit by oil lantern (how romantic) to save the batteries have stiff drink go to bed. Wake up Monday morning have coffee & tea captain rips generator apart removes cord and puts cord from BBQ cover on generator puts generator back together. 1st mate goes forward checks on mooring ball one line broke and top mooring ball line shredded holding on by shoestring, 1st mate starting to talk like a duck, Captain has solution but wants to finish generator first. 1st mate now waving hands in air and talking like daffy duck on speed. Wind still blowing like stink (20 knots) Captain has a J.H.A then ties two lines behind knot on mooring ball for back up. Captain ties anchor to bow of boat removes anchor chain, 1st mate & captain put dinghy in water, 1st mate pulls captain and dinghy around side of boat to bow, captain grabs anchor chain puts through the eye of mooring ball line, captain thinks he's in washing machine on spin cycle. 1st mate secures anchor chain, captain makes way back to boat, 1st mate happy captain happy he can now understand her again. Captain starts generator batteries charging everyone happy.