I love the SSB

I've had a number of cruisers tell me that the SSB is optional safety equipment, but I tell you - it's definitely not optional social equipment.  The SSB is like a ham radio, so you can talk over long distances with it.  Yesterday, I got an e-mail from another kid boat we hang out with saying that they heard us 700nm away in Norfolk, VA.  Chris Parker is on 4.045mHz from 6:30am until about 7:15-7:30am.  From that time until he's on the same frequency again at around 8:10am it's a Bahamas and Southeast US free for all, with all of the boats you've met calling each other and moving to a different frequency to chat.  Side by Side left us a few days ago and arrived safely in Fort Lauderdale yesterday.  Miakoda left yesterday for the Exumas and arrived safely.  This morning, we had a three way chat on the SSB, all having called each other on 4.045, just to say hi, to check in and to talk about plans. So the point being - if you ever expect to speak with the friends you've met along the way again, make sure you have an SSB.