Morning came at 6:00am. Captain Mike and China Mike did a check of the engine, fuel and oil levels and general inspection.  Fortunately, they found a problem before they left the dock, the propeller shaft slid almost all the way off the coupling, shearing the bolt that runs through the coupling and shaft.    The shipyard put the lock washer on the head of the bolt instead of on the nut.  They had to wait for a store to open to find a replacement bolt before crossing the Columbus Passage for Salt Cay. Coral put together a gourmet breakfast of ham and cheese with a dash of mayonnaise on a hamburger bun while waiting for a store to open.

The repairs were made and the Beachcomber started out across the Columbus Passage to Salt Cay at 8:30am.  The wind was still blowing 35-50 miles per hour and Captain Mike and crew knew this would be the hardest part of their voyage.  The Columbus Passage is the open sea body of water that separates the Caicos Islands from the Turks Islands.  It is about 7000 feet at its deepest and 21 miles from South Caicos to Salt Cay.  This is the passage that freighters take from the Dominican Republic/Haiti to the Bahamas.  Humpback whales also navigate the bank closest to Salt Cay during their annual mating migration.  Under calm conditions the trip from South Caicos to Salt Cay takes about 2-3 hours.

The seas were no calmer on Tuesday.  Leaving South Caicos, Captain Mike relied on his Garmin GPS48 (Global Positioning System).  As they approached the passage between South Caicos and Long Cay they sighted a sailboat that had run aground on a sand bar trying to take the shortcut they wanted to take the day before.  There was little conversation. The Beachcomber took on so much water it washed the soil off the plants and plugged the pump.  Every 45 minutes they had to bail 500-700 gallons of water.

Ollie spotted Salt Cay while they were about three miles out, China Mike swayed over to the window for the sight of land.  He couldn't see the island yet.  Captain Mike's visibility was poor because of the waves crashing onto the wheelhouse windows, he continued to rely on his GPS to bring them home. At 11:00am, Captain Mike could finally see the island, it would be another two hours before they pulled into the harbor.