This morning we were all up early and took well-needed showers ashore. The next thing was to find a marine electronics professional who could take a look at our autopilot. Halfway across the Gulf of Maine the autopilot started malfunctioning. This makes standing our one-man watches really tricky. If you need to trim a sail, check position or do anything, you have to take your hands off the wheel. Without the autopilot, it is a challenge. We certainly need the autopilot for the next 3,400 miles of shorthanded sailing that lies ahead. Thankfully, we tracked down J.D., a friendly and insightful marine electronics professional who made it to the boat by noon today. Everything in sail lockers, cabinets and storage spaces was moved to allow full access to wires and cables. Bill also pulled the panels in the navigation station and circuit breaker panels so that J.D. could quickly chase things down. J.D. crawled through space after space checking circuits and connections. We think he solved the issue. We then took Tazzarin out and did sea trials in the harbor running the autopilot through its paces. It is performing perfectly! Whew!

With repairs and sea trials complete, Bill, Carl and Greg headed into downtown Halifax and spent a couple of hours at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Some of ship models, including classic old Cunard steam ships, were wondrous. We probably spent the most time in the exhibits focused on the great Halifax Explosion of 1917. A munitions ship, packed with explosives, collided with another ship in the narrows of Halifax Harbour. The blast leveled major portions of the city. Boston sent rail cars of volunteers and supplies to help with disaster relief. Some of you may be aware that the huge Christmas tree erected each year at the Prudential Center building in Boston each holiday season is a gift to Boston from the people of Halifax. It is a century old tradition honored by the people of Halifax in undying appreciation for the exceptional support offered to their city in a time of need.

Tomorrow we will take on fuel, water and ice and sail by mid-morning bound the next 650 miles across the Cabot Strait to Newfoundland.

Bill

Tazzarin's Whale & Iceberg logo design by Emily Dove