Update for Monday 9 February 1998

As of 0800 this morning, the Patriot State was located at 17 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, 074 degrees 47 minutes west longitude. That places the ship approximately 120 miles southwest of Haiti, heading for the Windward Passage (between Cuba and Haiti). She was steering a course of 351 degrees and averaging a speed of 10.5 knots. The wind >at her position is out of the north, northwest at 6 knots and the seas are moderate. Air temperature is 77 degrees, sea water temperature is 80 degrees. Mostly sunny. Depth of water under the keel is 2000 meters.

Captain's Log:

The humidity is gone! It is a truly beautiful day...the first time in four weeks the daytime temperatures have been in the seventies. I know that statement will not get much sympathy from all of you Northerners caught in the grip of winter in New England, but it is a welcome respite from the heat and humidity for the Boys and Girls of Summer here on the Good Ship Patriot State.

Unfortunately, the reason for this nice weather over us is a cold air mass sitting over the Bahamas. That could have some repercussions on our visit to Lee Stalking Island. Because Lee Stalking is such a very flat, exposed little island in the Bahama chain, there is no protection from the wind. Our original plan was to anchor off shore< and ferry cadets to the beach using the four motor whaleboats we brought onboard. This is a drill we perfected, quite suddenly as it turned out, in Costa Rica. It takes a long time since each boat can only take 14 people. With a total of 537 people aboard...it is a complex and time consuming operation. If the wind blows too hard, it may keep us from lowering the boats and venturing ashore to give the cadets, particularly the Marine Safety and Environmental Majors, a tour of the Island. Our latest ETA (estimated time of arrival) for Lee Stalking Island is 0700 on Wednesday. We will then decide whether we stop for a tour, or turn the bus around and head for our next port of call: Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For those planning to meet the ship in Florida; We will dock at the Passenger Ship Terminal, Berth #22, Port Everglades, Florida. Our ETA is 0800 Friday, 13 February, 1998.