The repairs to the autopilot have been completed.  Now the boat and crew are ready to make the run to Key West.  We are waiting on the high tide to lift us off the bottom and provide sufficient depth to permit clear passage out of the Ft Lauderdale channel.  This should be by about 18:00 EDT.  With leaving in the evening, our 36 hour run to Key West will put us in the morning. That will be our last fuel stop before we cross the Gulf of Mexico. 

We would need double our fuel capacity running the engine the way we ran down the east coast.  The adverse current and light wind kept us motoring at higher RPMs.  To conserve fuel, we will need some favorable winds to help speed our crossing, because commitments for the crew are becoming a concern.