We twice try to cross the Yucatan channel where there is a strong 5 knot northerly current but both times get thrown back north into the Gulf of Mexico because of little wind. Our back up plans are Cuba and Key West since the current is already taking us there but some wind arrives and we push further south to counteract the strong current. Third time lucky? The wind fills to 12 knots, the best up until then was 8, and we hit the current hard and get to within 20 miles of Isla Mulheres and then the wind promptly dies. We begin to drift north and Margarida gets on the radio but it seems the only help now is the dinghy with a 3.5 horse power outboard.
