To: cramcha@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu, woody.nero@nrlssc.navy.mil, matta@madsewer.org, char7@imaxx.net, Michael.Ernst@uni-konstanz.de, Tao_sc31@hotmail.com, dkerkhof@chorus.net, lonna_temple@pleasantco.com, nonlinear@mindspring.com, danno@chorus.net, stan_smith@flad.com, mxwbr@aol.com, WHoldik@t-online.de, jcwacker@facstaff.wisc.edu, meinemi@aol.com, CC: hehilgen@aol.com
Herb, thanks again for being "aboard" and getting us out of pirates cove, ala. before we became permanent residents; although we thoroughly enjoyed the bountyful nature (dolphins and bluecrabs at
anchor) and new friends we met at the marina. merry christmas to you and brigitte.------ dear friends,
our long delayed passage to sarasota started out with rough conditions in the gulf of mexico outside
pensacola, because we intentionally headed out before a cold front passed in order to gain maximum
exposure to the northwest wind behind it. and boy did we! rosi claims we never had anything like that
in the atlantic, jim claims we just were not accustomed to being offshore. in any case Libelle and PC
stood up to the 30 + knots wind better than the crew and we made great progress 6-7 kts. through the
nite. the following day with all the clattering and banging quieted (some of you have experienced the
stuffing of towels into cabinets, refrigerator and drawers) we started the engine as the wind subsided
for the remainder of the trip. either our kt meter is reading low or we had favorable current all the
way. now we are in the lovely downtown anchorage (marina prices steep) in sarasota, where you can
buy a hot dog on the decorated streets from a santa wearing shorts. tonite we finally get to meet becky
in person. thanks for all the recent replies- sorry we miss TRITON in NOLA- how about the florida
keys? always glad to read news from beau chene and madison- are y'all frozen in, in corny? Merry
Christmas to All. and alles gouda rosi and jim.