As of 0800 this morning the Patriot State was located at 11 degrees 55 minutes north latitude and 078 degrees 35 minutes west longitude. She was steering a course of 029 degrees true and making a speed of 12 knots. The sky was partly cloudy, the air temperature was 86 degrees and we were enjoying a northerly 3 knot breeze. The sea temperature was 82 degrees. The depth of water beneath the keel was 3470 meters.

Captain's Log:

There is never a dull moment aboard the training Ship Patriot State. Although every perturbation to our carefully crafted pre-cruise plans tests our curricula and our ability to adapt , it amplifies the confidence that we are striving to build in the Cadets. Our latest episode was no exception. The Cadets with operational planning responsibilities are massaging the already tight training schedule to make up lost time and are looking at how we can adjust exams and watch schedules. One good thing...the deck cadets have had a lot of experience dropping and picking up the "hook" and the engineers have done so much maneuvering they are calling out throttle orders in their sleep.

Although the unplanned detour to Panama may have implications for Lee Stocking Island activities, please be assured that our arrivals in both Fort Lauderdale and Buzzards Bay are unchanged. The young first year cadet, whom we were compelled to leave behind, will be just fine. In fact, I understand that he is already feeling much better and is up and around. I am absolutely sure that he will not go too far astray while he kills time in Panama City; the families of our own cadet 1/c Jose Palermo and cadet 1/c Gabriel Fernandez, have "adopted" him. Both of the Panamanian mothers were with the sick cadet throughout the night to ensure that he did not feel alone. They said they knew how it must feel to have a sick son far away in a foreign country, and they were sure that some American mom would have done the same for their boys. Now, he must answer to three moms, two in Panama and one in Massachusetts; imagine the luck. The sick cadet is expected to be released from the hospital on Monday or Tuesday and will pick-up the schedule when he rejoins the ship in Florida.

In the mean time, training goes on the prop keeps turning and we steam closer and closer to home. Next stop: the Bahama Islands.