Passage to Luperon 3/7/09-3/14/09

I have been so captivated by this place, and factor in very slow internet service with very limited bandwidths, great local beer, meeting new people, and getting used to a very laid back lifestyle, I am remiss in keeping up with this great journey.
Here are my journal summaries of our trip from Georgetown, SC directly to Luperon, Domincan Republic.
Saturday March 7, 2009.
8:05 am
tearful goodbyes to our dear friends, I can't believe we are really leaving. Half of me wonders if we will limp back in afew hours with something needing Jamie's magic powers.
We cruise out the Sampit River uneventfully, I take afew half hearted pictures, and there as we enter Winyah Bay are friends at the very point of East Bay Park waving and taking pictures, how wonderful ! Goodbye Georgetown, I have my top ten things I love and hate about you, but thats another entry...
Its now just Rock, our close friend Dave signed on for the adventure, Max and Alma the clueless SWDs, and me aboard Magpie, 44 feet of power in motion. And motion it is as we enter the channel between jettys and on to the ocean and the groundswell that rocks us on our course due east,southeast at 146 degrees.
We dined on eggsalad sandwiches, as we pass the seabuoy, having skipped breakfast to finish tying down stuff, getting last minute things stowed.... We are joined by a parade of porpoises, and seagulls.
Last look at land, and its time for my nap. Once awake, I notice more motion, and stuff beach towels in all cabinets and the pantry shelves to keep the clatter down. Outriggers are out to decrease the motion.Max and Alma are low to the ground, like big fuzzy throw rugs scooting around the cabin. I take them on the bow with leashes, but they are happy to return to the salon, and stay flat.Max throws up, no kibble today.I am queasy, the boys are ready for dinner. I bake a 'Mrs Budds chicken pie' to rave reviews, preferring to go back below to tune out the noise of things continuing to move and settle,rock and roll.
12 midnight, I hear a terrible thumping at the stern, Rock on watch and we go out, dogs creeping low behind us. It takes a minute or two, but Rock discovers the Danforth anchor, once secured to the stern has come partially loose and is banging away, Rock out on the swim platform but cannot secure. I wake Dave, but we are unable to pull it up or get it back into its holdings and Rock lets it go. I feel sad for it, as Jamie repaired it, and I had painted it, and it just disappeared.
4am: my watch starts, and being the one who remembered daylight savings my shift is three hours instead of 4. I am less queasy, and note that there is barely a serving of Mrs Budd's left in the pan, no thanks I just ate a bar of soap. I mark a ships passage on radar, big and not many lights, the distances look less than they are and I worry needlessly. The engine room is hot,hot, hot, gauges checked, listen for odd sounds, smells...back out of the sauna.
March 8, Sunday
after 8 am:Its raisin bran, and coffee for breakfast for Dave. and Rock happily finishes off Mrs Budd's chicken pie. Hope my homemade meals come close to Mrs Budd's comfort food. I try out PB&J on saltines, not bad. I take my vitamins and head for the toilet(head) to set them free. Nap time, awakened by 10:30 as we pass the Gulf Stream, and rows of weedline: time to fish! I set out two rods, with lots of advise, and Alma and Max join me on the stern to watch the clear blue water and sky, and the clean horizon.
Coldcuts for lunch,Rock's famous sandwiches piled high.
Hoping for gourmet fish dinner, but no luck. Chili on the stove, cornbread scrapped fearing it will slosh about too much in the oven.
A nearly full moon rises on the port, as the sun setsin a flash on the starboard. The stars are amazing, the Big Dipper looks like it will scrape the flybridge.
7:30 pm, the engine dies a sputtering death, all hands to the engine room, racor filters changed, ATF poured in, but its gone dry and Dave bleeds each injector as we drift calmly with a roll here and there. Lots of muttering going on , as the complexities of the fuel pumping system are discussed with no real outcome other than the engine finally starting and we are back on course.
4 am ship passed port side , looked like a football stadium with a single light bulb hanging at either end...hard to see red/green light, I panic as two miles on radar looks like it is bearing down on us.
March 9 Monday:
12 midnight,Engine room alarm goes off, smoke billows from engine room, belts are smoking, Dave greases them, worries this will continue. I also worry thoughout my watch keeping close eye on the temps. By 7 am the noise from the belts revs up, Dave and Rock go below and eventually belts are cut, leaving us without hydrolic power to the windlass and bow thruster, neither will affect out passage at this point. Eggs,sausage,toast for the boys, nice to be able to cook.
Continue to be skunked by the schools of fish down there.Hot dogs for lunch(more PB&J for me), Lamb and eggplant pastitio for dinner. Dave doesn't eat lamb(only Yankees do!) but it is eaten and will fullfill the requirement, delicious to us.
Find baby sparrow on deck, amazing!! Where did it come from, how did a baby land bird get way out here? Dave warns it will not live. I put bread and fresh water out, know it will ride to Luperon with us. Max intent on following it as it hops and flies around the boat.
We are in the Bermuda Triangle, and approaching the Sargasso Sea. Course steady, porpoises , small and frisky seen off the bow.