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American Spirit II - Day 8; Southern Cross; Saturday, January 11, 2014



While coming on watch at 6:00 AM to relieve Darlene, who was on the 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM watch, it was pointed out to her where the Southern Cross was. For those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, our polar constellation reference is the Big Dipper and North Star. The Southern Cross fulfills the same function in the southern hemisphere, and is only visible once you get as far south as Cuba.

We were so close to the Cuban shoreline you could smell wood burning stoves or brush fires easily. We were about 2 miles north of the reef line. The wind was light at 8 knots, but we had a favorable current helping us along. To our starboard were a set of Traffic Separation Zones, that ships must us in congested waters of the world. Sail boats like ours are prohibited from sailing in such a zone unless were are crossing it in a specific manner.

We finally reached the western tip of Cuba, and tacked the boat between Cuba and another Traffic Separation Zone. Three cruise ships were visible as we did so. By 4:00 PM we had rounded the tip and were in the Caribbean Sea. Good buy Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Straight.

With the winds continuing to stay light, we motor sailed east under the south coast of Cuba. We need to go east to 79 West Longitude before turning for the San Blas Islands of Panama. This will be our toughest stretch in getting to Panama.

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