"Odysseus" comes from the Greek word meaning "trouble". And in our odyssey, trouble we have had. But what does one expect, from a boat that has not had a real test, or even a completed final checklist of all major components and functions?

As we left St. Martin, the boat first lost the autopilot. The destination of Panama had to be scrubbed. We had to go somewhere there were reliable, credible marine mechanics and facilities. St. John was the logical diversion. So we set sail for "America's Caribbean". The loss of autopilot is substantial. Driving this specialized craft is a challenge- the constant rudder adjustments and trim means the pilot is totally engaged with all his senses for the duration of the watch- a period of several hours.

The autopilot, or my favorite name for it is "robot driver" because that is what it does, is a real necessity on a long passage. Just in the 100 plus nautical miles, my hands were torn up and I was exhausted. We needed rest, and got a little between repairs to the boat and two days of sightseeing to St. John.