I had just gotten my laptop to play nicely with SatPC32 in time for this voyage, but relative winds have been very strong both days. Today, the 30-knot sustained winds got hold of my laptop as I was strapping it down just before a pass, and threw it a good distance before the laptop slammed into the deck. The CPU portion and its USB and HDMI ports work, but the display is completely wrecked. After we transit the Panama Canal this weekend and turn west, the winds may be more favorable. If that happens, I may test the practicality of bringing an external monitor up to the flight deck. In the meantime, I'll be manually tuning for a while if not for the rest of the trip.

We're turning due south in the morning to pass between Haiti and the eastern end of Cuba, and then will head for the Canal. Tomorrow's grids (4/15) are looking like FL22 (midday, but not likely on the air), FL21, and FL20. XW-2A and XW-2F are working well for me, XW-2D is a challenge, and RS-44 using CW has been great.

R/Jim Clary, EO

USNS Sgt William R Button

Tel: 850-549-0275, ext 4

E-mail: [email protected]