The verdict is in, and it does not look good for a timely delivery. The shaft on Home Free was bent, which may have been caused by, or actually caused, the cutlass bearing failure. End result: it will take at least three days to have a new shaft fabricated. It will be Monday at the earliest before we return to the water.
This may be it for my journey. I was contracted through Friday the thirteenth, and unless a new arrangement is negotiated by then, my Northbound passage ends here in the Windward Yacht Boat Yard. A sad end to such a dynamic adventure, although I can be proud of completing more than half of my intended distance, getting the boat back into the States, and persevering under repeated breakdowns and gear issues.
As soon as the negotiations are resolved, I will post my fate, so stay tuned.
