28°1'25" N 84°0'5" W

While resting in the cockpit listening to the dolphins coming up for fresh air there was a loud crunching sound and the boats auto pilot alarm sounds. After squeezing down in the port side lazarette, i determine that the auto pilot is toast. It want hold a course and makes a terrible sound when powered up. I turned the auto pilot head unit off and now we are hand steering the boat on a compass course. We quickly made a 2 hour schedule for sleeping and steering. i agreed to do the cooking on my shift. if this is all that happens on the shakedown cruise then I'm happy...Moral is still good. Captain Ron has been quoted more than once. "If anything is going to happen boss, it will happen out there". This quote is all to true. Ive never been sailing without something breaking...Weather is still great and we are making time at 7.5 knots under sail. This boat is fast little devil to be as heavy as she is. So far I'm more than happy.Read more