Thursday, September 13, 2007
Thursday 13th Cid Harbour
Great sail from Mackay to Goldsmith Island. Spinnaker most of the way, tide with us also dolphins, whales and turtles. No fish of course but you can’t have everything. Where would you keep it?
This is where I take up my argument with Richard Dawkins because once again we prove the existence of a jealous and vengeful God. Find a nice calm anchorage in Roylen Bay with no other boats and proceed to discover why. By midnight we were being tossed around like a cork. Rolled out of our bunks stuff. Couldn’t wait to get out of there so fired up the engine at first light and clouds of white smoke belched forth from the exhaust filling the bay. Less all bran please mother.
Shut engine down.
Sang ‘for those in peril on the sea’
Used the dinghy to get us out of the bay until we had breeze. Started engine again and this time no smoke so we put it down to slopping about all night, less viscous oil in the tropics and some imaginative physics.
Dropped anchor on the south side of Thomas Island. Highly recommended. Life’s good again. Played bocce on the beach with some local characters and coconuts. The coconuts won.
Checked the oil level. Didn’t look like oil, looked like suntan cream. So the problem hadn’t gone away. Water in the lubrication oil.
So yesterday morning was spent flushing out the sump and cleaning the filter as best we could (having built a strap-wrench) and gingerly edging out of the bay and sailing to Cid. Have made arrangements with Airlie to see the diesel doctor on Friday. Hope Eric is working hard.
You’ve probably spotted the next issue. Can’t run engine, can’t charge batteries.
It’s now a battle between the solar panel and the fridge. I spend my time holding the solar panel at the best angle to the sun. I think this is how Tai Chi started.
So, sailors, today’s lesson involves carrying all the tools and spares you need. This includes several oil filters, at least double the capacity of your sump in oil and about the one tool which we don’t have. A strap wrench.
More rum.
Pam’s fishing notes…we did hook another great Mackerel, but again it was not having anything to do with becoming a sailor and disembarked just as we were hauling it up over the gunwhales. Saw lots of Whales, some breaching in the distance, and then coming into Cid Harbour a mother cruising along with its little baby carvorting all over the place…..sooooo cute. And looking around this morning are lots of turtles surfacing near the boat in the oily calm waters. Oh!!... and Nick forgot his success at Goldsmith the evening before the smoking engine .He was using the jiggler to get some bait fish and managed to hook five yellow tail on the six hook jiggler, whoops of delight and lots of flapping fish…so now were after the big one but will now be in a marina for the next ? days getting the engine seen to so no fishing.
Great sail from Mackay to Goldsmith Island. Spinnaker most of the way, tide with us also dolphins, whales and turtles. No fish of course but you can’t have everything. Where would you keep it?
This is where I take up my argument with Richard Dawkins because once again we prove the existence of a jealous and vengeful God. Find a nice calm anchorage in Roylen Bay with no other boats and proceed to discover why. By midnight we were being tossed around like a cork. Rolled out of our bunks stuff. Couldn’t wait to get out of there so fired up the engine at first light and clouds of white smoke belched forth from the exhaust filling the bay. Less all bran please mother.
Shut engine down.
Sang ‘for those in peril on the sea’
Used the dinghy to get us out of the bay until we had breeze. Started engine again and this time no smoke so we put it down to slopping about all night, less viscous oil in the tropics and some imaginative physics.
Dropped anchor on the south side of Thomas Island. Highly recommended. Life’s good again. Played bocce on the beach with some local characters and coconuts. The coconuts won.
Checked the oil level. Didn’t look like oil, looked like suntan cream. So the problem hadn’t gone away. Water in the lubrication oil.
So yesterday morning was spent flushing out the sump and cleaning the filter as best we could (having built a strap-wrench) and gingerly edging out of the bay and sailing to Cid. Have made arrangements with Airlie to see the diesel doctor on Friday. Hope Eric is working hard.
You’ve probably spotted the next issue. Can’t run engine, can’t charge batteries.
It’s now a battle between the solar panel and the fridge. I spend my time holding the solar panel at the best angle to the sun. I think this is how Tai Chi started.
So, sailors, today’s lesson involves carrying all the tools and spares you need. This includes several oil filters, at least double the capacity of your sump in oil and about the one tool which we don’t have. A strap wrench.
More rum.
Pam’s fishing notes…we did hook another great Mackerel, but again it was not having anything to do with becoming a sailor and disembarked just as we were hauling it up over the gunwhales. Saw lots of Whales, some breaching in the distance, and then coming into Cid Harbour a mother cruising along with its little baby carvorting all over the place…..sooooo cute. And looking around this morning are lots of turtles surfacing near the boat in the oily calm waters. Oh!!... and Nick forgot his success at Goldsmith the evening before the smoking engine .He was using the jiggler to get some bait fish and managed to hook five yellow tail on the six hook jiggler, whoops of delight and lots of flapping fish…so now were after the big one but will now be in a marina for the next ? days getting the engine seen to so no fishing.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Mackay Repairs 09/08/07
I feel no pain, dear mother now, but oh what a terrible thirst.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse……….nasty noise in compressor, fire in the engine room, vast expense, many trips into town, 1001 bruises and cuts…..finally ripped out the last of the old gear and re plumbed the raw water. Tested the joint by opening the seacock. Ok. Then started the engine. A slight leak. Pressed stop button for engine and nothing happened. Couldn’t stop the bloody thing. Found decompression lever. Became terminally depressed.
Meanwhile the fridge was working so much better than we had anticipated. This should have been a positive but unfortunately it had frozen everything within a metre of the plate. So heaps of stuff had to be chucked.
Then back to the problem of the unstoppable engine.
Finally traced to the fact that the engine ground was through the old compressor which had been removed. Simple to sort once we’d found it.
So then back to tidying up the new installation and then tidying up the inside of the boat. Cyclone Tracy required less work per square metre.
So I’m not game to put to sea yet. I just sit with my head in my hands and rock gently back and forth.
I find it comforts me.
Also alcohol.
I feel no pain, dear mother now, but oh what a terrible thirst.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse……….nasty noise in compressor, fire in the engine room, vast expense, many trips into town, 1001 bruises and cuts…..finally ripped out the last of the old gear and re plumbed the raw water. Tested the joint by opening the seacock. Ok. Then started the engine. A slight leak. Pressed stop button for engine and nothing happened. Couldn’t stop the bloody thing. Found decompression lever. Became terminally depressed.
Meanwhile the fridge was working so much better than we had anticipated. This should have been a positive but unfortunately it had frozen everything within a metre of the plate. So heaps of stuff had to be chucked.
Then back to the problem of the unstoppable engine.
Finally traced to the fact that the engine ground was through the old compressor which had been removed. Simple to sort once we’d found it.
So then back to tidying up the new installation and then tidying up the inside of the boat. Cyclone Tracy required less work per square metre.
So I’m not game to put to sea yet. I just sit with my head in my hands and rock gently back and forth.
I find it comforts me.
Also alcohol.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Thursday 6th Mackay
7.30 am start to meet with the plumber and shipwright at the yards….bang goes another sleep in…I’m now looking about 75 and yearn for lazing around. Ended up making a box to support the new Wacko compresser and then worming into the engine area to drill it onto the wall..very glad it’s not 100 degrees as there is not a lot of space in there and its hot.
Spent a pleasant couple of days hacking out the old system with hacksaw and bolt cutters and then running around town getting the bits and pieces to install the new 12 volt system. Then building an insulated, ducted box in the engine room for the compressor, getting the plate bent to shape and fitted in the fridge and running the pipes and controls. Now need chiropractor.
Wednesday 5th Mackay
Rhymes with clucking bell. Davo, the eutectic man, came and had a look. Probably a slipping belt he said. Now I take a personal interest in matters of refrigeration so when he left I thought I’d run it for an hour or so. This is where Schadenfreude cuts in for others with boats. First a burning smell Then smoke. Pulled off the access hatch to the engine room and leapt for the fire extinguisher. Sat there watching it smoke with (the safety off on the extinguisher) for 30 minutes or so. All-Bran effect again. The interesting thing is how you’d get out of this boat if we did have a fire in the engine room. So we’re now doing fire drills as well as man overboard drills.
So now involved in major refit of the refrigeration system
.
Nick has taken to playing his piano, with earphones on, I think in times of stress this is
an escape. We now buy 2ltre casks so it is easier to dispose of the rest of it, but I think it is because you can drink more and it doesn’t show. Thank god this happened in port as it is still very hard to get to the right people to help with the problem.
Tuesday 4th Percys to Mackay
What a miserable bloody day. Motor sailed from 4am to 5pm and, as the French say, ..”eet was raining lark a peesing cow”. I was only wet, tired and hungry but then a large bulk carrier (otherwise referred to as a yachtfucker) loomed out of the mist. Then I was frightened. An aid to the digestive system now termed the all-bran effect. It turned out it was anchored which accounts for these words being read by you. Finally arrived at Mackay but had strange sounds coming from the eutectic compressor. (Fridge)
She speaking………
Left middle Percy at 4am this morning, always a good time to get up I say…… the relaxing yachting holiday…does not exist (did go ashore and see the A frame hut with all the yacht paraphernalia…very in interesting, worth a visit.) It is all pre dawn starts, listening to weather, eyes glued to the depth sounder and sometimes you smile. It is pissing down rain here and blowing up a storm, but luckily after 12 hours of basically motoring we arrived drenched and tired and cold to Mackay. They are not the most friendly lot and you need your hiking shoes on to get to the office, then they sit there looking like miss perfect, chewing gum in her smart uniform and you’re forming a puddle on the floor, your hair is plastered all over your face and your nose is glowing, while trying to fill out forms, and answer questions that not even the passport office ask you. PHEW, got that one off my chest
Monday 3rd Pearl Bay to North Percy Island
Hey Jansens we made it and know where you named your boat from now.
Sunday 2nd September Port Clinton to Pearl Bay
Lazy morning sleep in, then watching sea eagles diving into the water and catching fish.At least they still can!!. Took off about 10.15 to Pearl Bay and heading across
the bay to go inside the Entrance Island but got half way across we nearly took a wave into the cockpit, so trusty captain decided it was safer to head out and over the bar again. Stress levels rise as the waves get larger and start crashing over the boat and even the dodger. Not having a lot of fun but are committed now and at least another boat is heading in the same direction so we must be okay, we think. Its not until we actually cross the bar and head out that one can relax and then the swell is so lumpy .
Pearl Bay is a very pretty place, went ashore for a walk and met another couple who we followed in. Very rock and rolly anchorage but that’s sailing.
Very disconcerting when leaving and following the Lucas way out and going over ground that should be 3.7 meters and then your reading 2 and down to 1.9 and not knowing which direction to go……gets the adrenalin pumping I must say. However Nick is Mr Cool. Clearly doesn’t understand how serious the situation is. Bum still clenched tightly. One should have the most toned bums with all the clenching that is done on this journey….or something
Saturday 1st September Yepoon to Port Clinton
Another great sail with South easters blowing 15 to 20 but very lumpy seas.
Entering Port Clinton was interesting. It is actually a large river system and one uses a rock to line up the south headland as an entry point.
With the tide rushing out and swell coming in there were a few anxious moments as we crossed the bar and waves threatened to break over the back of us. I was “not happy pam” and looked to my trusty captain.He was the very essence of cool, and said, we were in the correct spot and he was okay with this, but then I couldn’t see his bum clenched so tight that he had the cool look for another reason, and why did he have his life jacket on?........ I have never stopped bobbing between the computer and Gps to confirm where we were so often. At one point all I could see was breaking waves in front and behind us. The bar we had to go over was 2.2 meters so the sea really stood up and the stress levels also rose considerably.
What a relief when we were through and then all we had to negotiate was a submerged rock a little further down on our Port side.
Bring on the rum and coke!!!!!!!!!!
7.30 am start to meet with the plumber and shipwright at the yards….bang goes another sleep in…I’m now looking about 75 and yearn for lazing around. Ended up making a box to support the new Wacko compresser and then worming into the engine area to drill it onto the wall..very glad it’s not 100 degrees as there is not a lot of space in there and its hot.
Spent a pleasant couple of days hacking out the old system with hacksaw and bolt cutters and then running around town getting the bits and pieces to install the new 12 volt system. Then building an insulated, ducted box in the engine room for the compressor, getting the plate bent to shape and fitted in the fridge and running the pipes and controls. Now need chiropractor.
Wednesday 5th Mackay
Rhymes with clucking bell. Davo, the eutectic man, came and had a look. Probably a slipping belt he said. Now I take a personal interest in matters of refrigeration so when he left I thought I’d run it for an hour or so. This is where Schadenfreude cuts in for others with boats. First a burning smell Then smoke. Pulled off the access hatch to the engine room and leapt for the fire extinguisher. Sat there watching it smoke with (the safety off on the extinguisher) for 30 minutes or so. All-Bran effect again. The interesting thing is how you’d get out of this boat if we did have a fire in the engine room. So we’re now doing fire drills as well as man overboard drills.
So now involved in major refit of the refrigeration system
.
Nick has taken to playing his piano, with earphones on, I think in times of stress this is
an escape. We now buy 2ltre casks so it is easier to dispose of the rest of it, but I think it is because you can drink more and it doesn’t show. Thank god this happened in port as it is still very hard to get to the right people to help with the problem.
Tuesday 4th Percys to Mackay
What a miserable bloody day. Motor sailed from 4am to 5pm and, as the French say, ..”eet was raining lark a peesing cow”. I was only wet, tired and hungry but then a large bulk carrier (otherwise referred to as a yachtfucker) loomed out of the mist. Then I was frightened. An aid to the digestive system now termed the all-bran effect. It turned out it was anchored which accounts for these words being read by you. Finally arrived at Mackay but had strange sounds coming from the eutectic compressor. (Fridge)
She speaking………
Left middle Percy at 4am this morning, always a good time to get up I say…… the relaxing yachting holiday…does not exist (did go ashore and see the A frame hut with all the yacht paraphernalia…very in interesting, worth a visit.) It is all pre dawn starts, listening to weather, eyes glued to the depth sounder and sometimes you smile. It is pissing down rain here and blowing up a storm, but luckily after 12 hours of basically motoring we arrived drenched and tired and cold to Mackay. They are not the most friendly lot and you need your hiking shoes on to get to the office, then they sit there looking like miss perfect, chewing gum in her smart uniform and you’re forming a puddle on the floor, your hair is plastered all over your face and your nose is glowing, while trying to fill out forms, and answer questions that not even the passport office ask you. PHEW, got that one off my chest
Monday 3rd Pearl Bay to North Percy Island
Hey Jansens we made it and know where you named your boat from now.
Sunday 2nd September Port Clinton to Pearl Bay
Lazy morning sleep in, then watching sea eagles diving into the water and catching fish.At least they still can!!. Took off about 10.15 to Pearl Bay and heading across
the bay to go inside the Entrance Island but got half way across we nearly took a wave into the cockpit, so trusty captain decided it was safer to head out and over the bar again. Stress levels rise as the waves get larger and start crashing over the boat and even the dodger. Not having a lot of fun but are committed now and at least another boat is heading in the same direction so we must be okay, we think. Its not until we actually cross the bar and head out that one can relax and then the swell is so lumpy .
Pearl Bay is a very pretty place, went ashore for a walk and met another couple who we followed in. Very rock and rolly anchorage but that’s sailing.
Very disconcerting when leaving and following the Lucas way out and going over ground that should be 3.7 meters and then your reading 2 and down to 1.9 and not knowing which direction to go……gets the adrenalin pumping I must say. However Nick is Mr Cool. Clearly doesn’t understand how serious the situation is. Bum still clenched tightly. One should have the most toned bums with all the clenching that is done on this journey….or something
Saturday 1st September Yepoon to Port Clinton
Another great sail with South easters blowing 15 to 20 but very lumpy seas.
Entering Port Clinton was interesting. It is actually a large river system and one uses a rock to line up the south headland as an entry point.
With the tide rushing out and swell coming in there were a few anxious moments as we crossed the bar and waves threatened to break over the back of us. I was “not happy pam” and looked to my trusty captain.He was the very essence of cool, and said, we were in the correct spot and he was okay with this, but then I couldn’t see his bum clenched so tight that he had the cool look for another reason, and why did he have his life jacket on?........ I have never stopped bobbing between the computer and Gps to confirm where we were so often. At one point all I could see was breaking waves in front and behind us. The bar we had to go over was 2.2 meters so the sea really stood up and the stress levels also rose considerably.
What a relief when we were through and then all we had to negotiate was a submerged rock a little further down on our Port side.
Bring on the rum and coke!!!!!!!!!!
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