We are travelling in a 53ft Bruce Roberts Ketch from Florida to Western Australia via the Panama Canal and set out on the 24th February from North Palm Beach.

We called in at Fort Pierce on the ICW for a few days and then sailed out on our planned route via Capetown. However due to some problems we had on the way which included a gale, a knockdown, diesel spilling into the bilges, a small but smokey fire in the engine room, and the gas solenoid giving up. This meant that we lost the autopilot and had to steer manually and that we had no hot food or drink for 8 days or so. However, we decided that St Martins in the Leeward Islands would be the best place for repairs. so we arrived safely in Marigot Bay on 12th March.

We stayed for 3 weeks while repairs and testing took place, and to replace the outboard which died and for a bit of R & R after the journey.