"So here we sit just cutting cookies east of Cape Hatteras. With no rudder, seas 8-12 fouling our make shift bucket and anchor “rudder” system about every 4 minutes we are adrift but fairly safe. When big ships pass near I get on the radio and identify myself, “I am the disabled sailboat off your port/starboard. We have no rudder. I have no way to steer this boat and avoid a collision. My current position is…” So far all the big boats have responded and wish us luck, the female voice helps here. It feels like we are still in the seas conditions caused by the Gulf Stream, extremely lumpy, unpredictable jerks, and every now and then a wave that lifts us and sends everything airborn, including me (Helen). The coast guard is making arrangements to tow us within 50 miles of shore and then put us with the tow service we bought last May. So hopefully tomorrow we can start the towing to shore process. It’s a no brainer that we wish we were out there with all of you, and I bet some of you are enjoying the warmth and good weather south of here. Have a Dark and Stormy or a Pain Killer and send those positive vibes that we need. Me, I am taking real pain killers to help with some of sore spots from crashing into the walls down below. Just another day in a boater’s life, and a few more big boat units out of the pot to get back back on the seas. Enjoy the trip, know we are thinking of all of you!"