Hocus Pocus Dominocus Make them reappear...

After Leaving La Palma I never imagined that a week into the journey in the middle of the Atlantic my rudders would both fail.  One being completely ripped off and broken as if it were a toothpick or a match stick. God was good though and gave me the ability to come up with makeshift rudders, using my cockpit wood, the boom of the mast, and a cabin door. I am also extremely grateful for the sailing vessel Hocus Pocus and her crew who heard my Distress call pinging on the VHF and came to my rescue. They are a team consisting of two Husband wife teams (David and Carol) (Phil and Linda) that were enroute to Barbados when they picked me up. It amazes me that they turned around, came to pick me up, towed me the rest of the way (nearly 40 Nautical Miles) and asked for nothing in return except some beers, and then as if that were not enough they took me on as a son, feeding me, introducing me to the folks here who know how to get things done, and then if that were not enough treated Blue and I as family, having us on board there 50 foot Prout for real espresso from a Jura espresso maker, tea, and all the drink we could handle if we were drinking.  [This cost them fuel, time, and money, as they had to stay an extra week waiting for a weather window]  I maintained sobriety, and after rescue I really wanted to get real good and drunk...that ordeal really shook me up... I must say it was a great and awesome time we have had this past week. There is a camaraderie that I haven't known even with some friends for which I have spent a lot of time and years with.... And here is the kicker... One of the team, Carol on board is a bonafide witch (I won' reveal her coven name, but you will know it if she were after you ;-0, and another (Phil) a devout atheist who says the single biggest argument for the non existence of God is the Mosquito:-)  It is just amazing to me the LOVE of complete strangers who really have no need or desire for my Lord Jesus in their lives.  Who had nothing to lose or gain by picking me up.  In my Bible it says GOD is LOVE, and I know HE believes in this team, and it is evident He is in them.
      I am just shock and awe, at the Goodness of God through these Fine Britons from Lancashire.  They have given me so many things to think about and so many options.  Both David and Phil are Master Yachtsmen and that means they have been an absolute jewel of information to me.  I am convinced that NOW is the time to get this boat back to St. Thomas and try to get the apartment and job sorted after I get there.  My window for getting across the Atlantic is fast approaching and this means getting busy.  So here it goes...
      I was rambling on in my blog about the problems I had in Britain etc... WELL, STRIKE IT ALL!!!!.  I will never speak any ill will even if I did meet some knuckle heads who ripped me off while there.  The kindness and goodness of the Hocus Pocus Team is enough for a lifetime of trouble I could face by anyone there.  God save the Queen!  and God Bless Hocus Pocus!  FOR LIFE!
   I am sad as well, because they are leaving on Saturday (tomorrow), and that means I am alone again in a place I really don't like, and I have to be here, because I really have no other option, except to fly home and that is really not an option, because I could probably fix the boat for what it cost to fly home... it is a real catch 22.... However, they did take me to a wonderful Irish restaurant here in Mindelo called simpatico. the owner Tom has been here 13 years and is a wealth of information. It will be nice to go there to just feel at home... Well, That is about all for now. Hope to check in with you later. Please feel free to donate toward me getting this boat back to the VI and helping me get back to work etc.. so I can pay for everything... Hocus Pocus Dominocus I hope they  reappear someday in my life.  I write this with tears of expression for the heartfelt love I have for them...
https://www.gofundme.com/yq7sys

WELL, WE UNDER DURESS ARE IN CAPE VERDE...

    The good news is I am officially out of the EU, so I can legally claim my VAT back.  The bad news is I was 22 days shipwrecked, left for naught, with broken rudders, and had to become quite innovative in order to try to steer the boat 726 miles out in the Atlantic to the safety of the Cape Verde Islands which were 273 miles South East of my position.
     On Dec. 10, 2015 Blue and I left for what we thought would be a typical three week Atlantic crossing.  We had received help from the Spanish Social Services, so we had plenty of beans, rice, macaroni, water, supplies to go the distance.  I had checked everything I thought needed checking, and didn't notice any signs or need of repair on the rudders.  Well, one week into the journey and to my complete surprise(I felt no shock and heard no bang), my port side rudder was completely torn off like a match stick being broken.  three days later the Starboard side rudder gave way and put a 10 inch long 1 inch wide gash in the back of my boat.  This was the end I thought....  I prayed, didn't panic, and trusted God to show me what to do.  We came up with the idea to make a gondolier with the help of my spotter Carl... it didn't work well, but it helped.  Then a few nights later after seeing repeated broken gondolier prototypes (the water, waves, and force were great), I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me about rigging my outboard engine to be able to steer.  this worked brilliantly, except, I needed Gasoline.  Three huge Cargo ships came to my rescue and dropped me fuel into the water which I retrieved with my hook and the boat using the engine to steer. 
     We managed to get within 25 miles of the first Cape Island when a British ship passing by in the opposite direction heard my distress call and offered me gas, and a tow in the remaining 40 miles to the marina mindelo in Sao Vicente.  It was truly remarkable how they were so willing to help me.  I am forever grateful, and cannot speak ill of any experience I had in Britain ever again.  they quite well saved me because it was clear the Cape Verde Authorities were not sending out boats to get me...
    Now, I am at anchor.  I left the marina this morning and anchored a few hundred feet away which is free.  However, not without risk as piracy and theft are big problems here...  I hope to go back to the marina when they are ready to work on my boat and get me ready to go.  My job told me they cannot keep my position open after Feb. 3, 2016...  I am sad about this, because I always meant to finish my two year commitment with them.
   Where we are now is here; I have not worked in six months.  I cannot afford a ticket home (2500 Euros).  I cannot afford to leave the boat here for a year (4000Euros).  I cannot afford to be in the marina, and I don't have the money right now to even fix my boat.  I have sold my dinghy just to pay the bill for the week I was there.  it is a strange place I find myself.  I don't want to be here, I don't want to be there, it is just strange...  I don't understand it... how and why could such a mess have happened to me?  The worst part is it is making my name not good, and my credit due to default is even more terrible.  GOD PLEASE HELP HERE, I THANK YOU FOR THE RESOURCES I NEED TO GET HOME ONCE AND FOR ALL WITH MY HOME NAD BACK TO WORK IN TIME TO SAVE MY NAME,  AND THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS POURING IN FROM GO FUND ME IN ORDER TO GET MY HOME REPAIRED AND GET US BACK OUT THER TOWARD HOME.  THANK YOU.