Battle Damage

Here are some shots of the damage:

Loose Spreader

Thank God for the Spinnaker Halyard

Bear Dealing With It

Adjustment Medicine

Duh, how open bridges look

Unbelievable,  the notes and calls expressing concern.  The boat still swims and most likely will go "on the hard" soon for the mast repair.  Otherwise, methinks the long lead item will be the bow pulpit.  Not sure if Beneteau stocks them.  My guess is that they do not.  Several positive things about the event.  I not have a different attitude about long days in the GIWW.  We will not do that again.  I will have paper charts topside in addition to the chart plotter.  I did not get one (since the stores were out) of the GIWW in New Orleans.  Prior to getting here, I circled all bridges and locks on the charts I had.  

We have met some very interesting people along the way like Daniel of S/V Aletlain, a young single hander (sailing alone) who plans to take his boat around the mud ball (world).  I would bet he will. His boat has no dodger or bimini and when he arrived in Houma, it was raining/sleeting.  He was wearing foulies and a dive mask.  When asked if he was miserable he said that he was quite comfortable.  Then there is the story of a former Navy Seal who swam the entire length of a river from the headwaters to the mergence with Old Miss.  Or the fellow who canoed the Missouri, all of it.  Each of these guys spent over two months in their efforts. 

There is also Max who purchased his first sail boat six months ago.  It is a 45 feet steel ketch (main and mizzen masts) who hired a captain to help bring the boat from Cincinnati to New Orleans.  He fired the guy a few days into the trip due to his propensity to drink more than Max.  Then, with no prior knowledge, he continued and arrived safely here.  A very distinctive vessel indeed.