Day 3 -- Navigating the Doldrums

I began thye graveyard shift with Prewitt at about 2:30 am, only to find the Gulf to be flat as glass and strangely quiet. My fatigue had not subsided and it soon overcame me. I was a bit weary at the helm and as I could not see the compass well enough I had to guide Ella's course by the stars in the sky. But after stairing at the stars for hours trying to remain on course, they began playing tricks on my tired eyes and they were doing things starts should never do. They began to flip and zip and jump from side to side. On the horizon I saw and imagined horrible things that I knew did not exist, but nonetheless they still frightened me and I knew I was completely rattled to the core.

Prewitt attempted conversation to keep our minds sharp, but I hadn't the strength and I quickly felt full exhaustion take over me. After begging for the sun to rise, it's eventual ascent to the sky proved to be quite the stunning image on the reflection of the calm waters. Jesse awoke and I quickly ran to claim his bed. I slept hard for a few hours and awoke to some wind and hot skies. I think boredom and frustration had set in as we realized we were many miles behind where we intended and needed to be to make it to the Dry Tortugas.

Eventually we had to make the decision to cut the Dry Tortugas out of our trip entirely, because we would not make it to Key West in time and would likely not make it home in time, as the wind was not going our way and we hadn't the motor to make it.

I chose to take the early shift so I could get some more good sleep. We drank hot tea with Jack Daniel's and cruised on until it was our turn to sleep. I got a good bed, put on my iPod and slept as long as I could. That was, until I was brutally awoken the next morning.