We are familiar with the cruising description: "fixing your boat in exotic locations" but we didn't expect there to be quite so many repairs.
On February 2nd we ventured in to Palm Beach Yacht Harbour Marina for fuel. They have a travel lift and fork lift in full-time use as they're taking boats in and out of enclosed dry storage....on demand.
Safe to say .... they don't specialize in sail!
In order to maneuver in their tight quarters, thrusters are a pre-requisite.
This was the location our transmission cable chose to break.
Unbelievably, Barry did get us out of there, broken cable and all, by working the gears from the engine compartment.
We dropped anchor that night in nearby Pelican Harbour; a snug, secure, man-made lake.
Soooo, what to do?
We'd purchased Towboat U.S. coverage before we left so we called them for assistance. We hoped they would bring us the part but alas they would only tow us to a marina. Having had enough "fun" in marinas today to last us awhile we decided we needed to make land.
We found the address of the condo units near us on shore by way of Google Maps.
We googled them and came up with their condo management office. "Maria" there gave Barry permission to come ashore even though she said it would probably cost her her job. (she was ready to leave anyway).
After a few calls, Barry found viable transmission and engine cables at Eagle Marine in Delray Beach which he paid for by phone.
He arranged for a taxi driver to pick up the parts and deliver them to the condo address.
The security people on shore who swarmed Barry proved Maria's point but fortunately he did manage to take delivery of the parts and make a hasty escape (well as hasty as rowing will allow).
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