Finally the first post from the Caribbean... We spent the last two weeks in a cycle.  Step 1: Rip apart the boat, Step 2: complete a project,  Step 3: reorganize the boat, Step 4: Repeat.  We worked around the clock to finish the following projects: remove unused wires and hoses and non functioning appliances (tv and microwave were from the paleozoic era), rewire entire boat, secure propane fuel lines, replace fire extinguishers, replace 9 seacocks, clean out and organize stearage compartment, remove rotten wood from under galley stairs, replace galley and head faucets, build new battery box, add new depth sounder and transducer, replace two halyards, remove stains from top sides, service both diesel and outboard dinghy engine, add "Harwich Port, MA" lettering to stern, and much more. The quartermaster proved to be quite an electrician (rewiring an entire boat in less than a week is no simple feat). Nights consisted mostly of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, head lamps and determination to get the boat in the water. After crawling around in the bilges and finishing work in the evening we crashed on sail bags since we didn't have any fresh sheets. However, the work paid off as after 12 days Polaris was gently placed in the water! Success was quickly muted as we had a number of boat gremlins strike during the maiden voyage. The ring at the clew of the jib ripped out due to sun exposure so we switched to the backup jib. Also as we were pulling up to Esperanza (small town on the island of Vieques), the engine stopped spitting water so we had to shut it down to avoid overheating. That said, pulling into a picturesque harbor with a few beachside bars next to a small island with breaking waves made it worth the chaos. A rum drink and swim at sunset was the cherry on top.

The following day after a little research we learned there were no sailmakers nearby so to repair the jib I had to take the ferry from Vieques to Fajardo.  This wasn't surprising given the town was literally a "one horse town" (a man rode a horse along the beach and through town as we arrived). The shuttle from the town to the ferry never arrived so using broken Spanish I convinced a man sweeping the street to give me a ride. Luckily I walked onto the ferry as it was departing, although it took doing twice the speed limit and passing cars around hairpin corners to make it on time. While in Fajardo, I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone and pick up the fishing rods that we shipped in addition to fixing the sail. Unfortunately, while the rods were guaranteed to arrive last week they are still "in transit". According to the sailmaker that repaired the jib, that is the "the price of paradise".

We are finally back on track. With a little teamwork and troubleshooting we fixed the engine and the North Sails shop quickly repaired the sail. Hopefully we don't play out anymore scenes from Captain Ron enroute to St. Thomas...