can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

American Spirit II - Day 158; Motor Wouldn't Start, Pull Cord on Chartplotter Disconnected, Fell Asleep on Watch & No SSB Connection; Thursday, June 12,2014



At 6:00 AM turned engine off, put jib out, mainsail still on 2nd reef. Wind 17 knots, boat speed 5.7 knots. Put hydro generator in water and turned wind turbine on. Could sail with both because on starboard tack, which doesn't stress broken shroud. A little while later shook out 2nd reef to lst reef on mainsail.



The upper limb of the sun broke thru the horizon at 7:21 AM Tonga time. I thought I might have seen a green flash, but wasn't sure enough to call it a definite. 50/50 doesn't count. Too bad. A partial cloud obstructed part of my vision.



I woke Joel at 9:15 AM, and we conducted the morning communication's net at 9:30 AM. Unfortunately, no one answered my call.



Breakfast at 9:40 AM consisted of scrambled eggs, chilled pear halves and Tongan bread. The bread had to be cut as it was in a solid block. Very good. I had stored it in the freezer and then thawed it in our refrigerator before this morning. Seems no countries except America put preservatives in bread, so it never lasts long. A week tops.



At 10:10 AM I finished another book on my Kindle. The Kill Artist/Gabriel Allon by Daniel Silva. Recommended by brother Andy back in Tampa. An OK book, but nothing great. Sorry Andy. However, I still have 4 more in the series to read. Maybe they'll get better.



I took a nap from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Couldn't sleep.



Our noon position was 18 degrees, 24 minutes South; and 179 degrees, 40 minutes West. 110 miles from Suva, Fiji.



At 1:45 PM full mainsail and jib out. Wind 12, boat speed 6.0 knots.



I napped again from 1:47 PM to 3:45 PM. Still couldn't sleep. I'm getting really tired.



At 3:40 PM the in-haul sheet on the mainsail got stuck when we were trying to reef in the sail with a storm cloud coming up. Joel went up on deck and we found out that a spare halyard had gotten wound up in the furling mechanism. After letting the sail back out again, the halyard came back out. End of problem. The second time this has happened. An important lesson practiced. When using a winch to wind in or out a line, if it doesn't winch the way it should, or if it winches harder than normal, STOP! And try to figure out why its not acting right. This is actually a Joel practice that I now follow after having learned the hard way when not following it. If you keep cranking the winch, something bad will eventually happen.



At 3:45 PM when I went to start the engine it wouldn't start. Joel started it by using two long screw drivers to start the engine by touching the screw drivers to the starter battery and house bank batteries, and then touching them to each other (the screw drivers). As he did this I turned the ignition and the engine started. Like using jumper cables, but using screw drivers instead. So we have another dead battery we need to replace in Port Denarau Marina. At least it conked out now and not after we left Fiji. I asked Joel how he would jump these batteries if he was alone on the boat, or I was. You can't. We'd have to take the bow thruster battery and put it in the place of the starter battery, instead.



Joel napped from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. At about 4:30 PM we crossed the 180 degrees longitude and were now in 'East' longitude instead of 'West.' During this time period there were rain showers all over, but we were lucky so far in not having any hit us.



The pull cord on the chart plotter came off when I pulled it. It is used to move the position of the chart plotter from center, to left or to right. Fortunately, it was stuck in the center position. We'll have to fix it in Port Denarau when we get there Monday.



Dinner at 6:00 PM consisted of freeze dried Chicken and Noodles, peas and carrots and fruit cocktail. Plus vanilla ice cream for a 2nd dessert.



The sunset at 6:20 PM was obstructed by clouds, so no green flash.



At 6:30 PM Adela, Free & BrEasy, Ghost, Hebe and us were on the evening net. Adela reported an engine problem involving an injector. These nets are a good morale booster in that talking to other boast boosts morale. And if a boat is having troubles, then other boats can offer advice on fixing the problem or can even come to another boat's aid if necessary.



It felt as if my cold had reached its peak tonight and that I should start feeling better tomorrow. Good. I've been really dragging with the cold, and only haing 2 of us to stand watches makes it more difficult.



I tried to nap the hour before my 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM watch, but again had no luck in getting any sleep.



I tried to send and receive emails via the SSB at midnight, but could not connect with three different ground stations in Manihi, Niue and Darawank NSW; or I'd connect but the speed of transmission was so slow (200) that I had to disconnect the link myself because it would have taken an hour to transfer the emails. We're only allowed 90 minutes of air time a week with sail mail, so an hour for one night won't do.



Also at midnight a fog rolled in. First time on trip we had fog. Didn't last long, maybe an hour.



At 12:45 AM I fell asleep in the cockpit due to exhaustion. I woke up at 1:15 AM and then woke Joel up, as his watch started at 1:00 AM until 6;00 AM. I also ran the water maker from 12:00 AM to 2:00 AM. Once Joel relieved me, I went right to bed. Too tired even for a shower and changing my bandage on my leg.



374 Days until home.



Brian Fox


Previous | Next