0414: Wake up, put on wicking clothes, windbreakers. Have to fill water jugs, load fresh batteries (lithium) into GPS and SPOT. Fill some ditty bags with snacks, then head off to the start. Boil eggs for later, chow down on some English muffins.

0600: Arrive Ft Desoto, put on drysuits, pose for group Watertribe photo moment, then a few moments with other skippers before setting up boat for the start.

0655: Assemble at your boat, final plans for the start, including who holds the boat and who will pack the rollers into the bowels of the boat for reserve floatation.

0700: Start… put rollers under the bow, shove off, and hopefully, we slide into the water, Hoa holds the bow while I sort out the rollers, inflate them slightly, lock in the oars, and away we go. 15-20 predicted, so will start with two reefs, the storm jib.

Expect SPOT OK transmissions every 4-6 hrs. OK signals with major course changes and a “custom” transmission when we break for naps and downtime.

HERE WE GO!