Rhumb runners............. The days preceding our designated departure date from the docks in Ft. Pierce were busy ones as we made final preparations. The boat was buzzing with tradesmen doing “their thing”....electronics, canvas, teak, waxing. Even the day of, there were last minute tweeks, to be certain the boat was 100%. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Bob and I had the assignment of moving hull #14 to American Custom Yachts (in Stuart, Florida) to be painted and to start the process of commissioning for display in the Ft. Lauderdale boat show. (Following the boat show, she'll be delivered to her new owners who hail from Alaska!) Mission accomplished, we hustled back to Ft. Pierce and cast off the lines for our rhumb line trip to Morehead City, North Carolina. Out of the inlet, we turned to port and set our waypoint to the Beaufort inlet, engaged the autopilot, not planning to touch the wheel again for 471 nautical miles. Let's hear it for marine electronics! We had a somewhat choppy beam sea and were thankful that this Krogen Express was equipped with stabilizers. Then, as nightfall approached, we were treated to some fairly significant light shows! There were numerous thunderstorm cells surrounding us, and as we watched them on the radar, we were happy that our course led us around, and not through, them! On trips like this we always like to bring with us two pizzas – thin crust for Bob, deep dish for me! - to munch on while underway. As we prepared for our first of several three-hour watch rotations, we pulled out the pizzas and each popped open a can of diet Mountain Dew (the “official” soda of Krogen Express Yachts!). I took the first watch. Shortly after midnight, now with captain Bob at the helm, we had our first real opportunity to see the advantage of having AIS (automatic identification system) at work. This technology allows for transmitting and receiving information from ship to ship. It gives captains the name, size, course, speed, and destination of other AIS-equipped vessels operating nearby. Using this information, Bob was able to easily determine the course and speed of a large container ship enroute to Savannah. The AIS system informed him of the closest point of approach which, if we had both held our current speed and heading, turned out to be just 600 feet! If you're thinking we decided to alter our course, you're right! Believe it or not, after parting ways with said container ship, we did not see another boat for 32 hours! Our rhumb line had us crossing the Gulf Stream, and offshore as many as 160 miles. While in the Gulf Stream, we benefited from northbound currents sometimes approaching 4 knots. Always happy to have a boost! We had with us a hand-held GPS and an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) as well as a satellite phone (requested by Betsie). Somehow it brings her great peace of mind to hear that we're still alive and on course! Imagine that! Forty-six hours after departing Ft. Pierce, we spotted land again, and another hour later entered the Beaufort inlet. We tied up, and pulled out the hoses, buckets, soap and brushes for a good wash-down. It was good to be on terra firma! CONFIDENCE AND GRATITUDE In order to depart on a journey like this you must have a terrific amount of confidence in your yacht. While I have over 3400 hours at the helm of Krogen Express 52's over the past ten years, I never forget the fine craftsmen at Asia Harbor Yacht Builders and Jeff and Mr. Lin, who own the yard that thoughtfully construct our yachts. They provide the foundation that allows Bob and I to give the boats to our team of merry men in Florida to put the finishing touches on the boats prior to delivery. Thanks to DZ, David A., David C. & John, RR, Thad, Enrico and the folks that assist them! And we could not do what we do without Bob. We are very proud of what you do for us!