Under mostly blue skies, temps low-80’s, but winds still north-component we move about halfway to Cay Caulker. We may be underway yet it is Christmas - one of Jerry’s favorite holidays - so we begin with coffee and homemade chocolate cherry cookies followed by the best bloody mary’s that can be assembled from what is available in the Belizean grocery stores served along side a baked breakfast casserole. Traveling north against north winds / seas is rarely pleasant and we certainly had rougher hours than others yet we arrive at our planned destination around 3:30pm, 9 hours later.

The good news, the Raymarine auto-pilot did just fine on heading-hold. The not so good news, the windlass didn’t take the anchor & chain down when the down button was pushed. The up button worked (which when you think about it, is the best way for it to work, yet was not helpful at this particular moment). Jerry works on it for several minutes while I practice holding Vida Dulce in place against the winds, current, and between multiple shallow areas, before he re-wires it so that the up button takes the anchor chain down and we can get settled here in between the cays of Bluefield Range. He then spends the next 45 minutes investing the cause; turns out to be a broken wire, actually missing wire as it had disintegrated, in the forward water tank / storage locker. I think the cause of our recent windlass issues is more about it being worn-out, however it was good to have discovered what today’s issue is and be able to fix it.

This anchorage is protected from nearly all directions of wind and seas so we prepare and enjoy a fresh out-of-the-oven holiday dinner. Cheers!