As of 0800 today the Patriot State was located at 17 degrees 06 minutes north latitude and 075 degrees 39 minutes west longitude. She is steering a course of 209 degrees at a speed of 14 knots in 1350 fathoms of water. The sea is moderate with an eight foot easterly swell driven by east south east winds at 10 - 12 knots. The sky is cloudy with scattered showers. The temperature is a warm 80 degrees and the water temperature is 76 degrees.

Captain's Log:

The Patriot State is currently in Caribbean waters. Yesterday, we navigated the Windward Passage under blustery weather conditions , however, a feisty 20 knot wind from the east and choppy seas failed to deter the enthusiasm of the cadets who throughly enjoyed the beauty of the area.

I expected the weather conditions to remain the same, but the vagaries of Mother Nature proved me wrong. With Cuba abeam to starboard, the wind diminished, the sea calmed down...and the deep blue water of the Caribbean became crystal clear. In fact, our cadets could not believe how clear the water had become. If not for the depth, I believe they would have been able to see the bottom.

If it were possible to see the bottom, a glimpse of tired old volcanoes would have been in evidence. They serve as the foundation for the beautiful Caribbean islands that surround us.

Early morning showers rinse the salt from the decks...but wreak havoc with our painting schedule. However, we have been able to use it as a learning experience. The Cadet Officer of the Deck tracks the showers on radar, then plots a course and speed to avoid them during the day...and then hitting them at night.This is one time we can lay claim to beating Mother Nature at her own game!

We have officialy notified the Panama Canal Commission of our estimated arrival time...and have begun preparations for entering the Canal Zone. We will pick up more food, more fuel, and more good weather, once we arrive in the zone.