17:12.98S 149:21.86E AM Friday 1st August 200 miles East of Cairns
We had a catalogue of problems yesterday, mostly related to water pumps for some reason.
The fun went something like this: **
Oh! The autohelm has stopped working and it looks like it's because the batteries are too low.
Oh! The batteries are going flat too quickly, turn on the diesel generator to charge them.
Oh! The generator is cutting out. It's overheating due to a broken seawater pump. It can't be fixed here. Never mind, turn on the main engine to charge the batteries.
Oh! The main engine is also overheating because it's not pumping seawater. We'll have to take the engine apart. Looks OK to me. Let's put it back together again.
Oh! It seems to be working now. Don't know why. Better keep the engine running in case we get the same problem starting her up again.
Oh! If we keep the main engine on we might run out of diesel fuel. I need a shower.
Oh! The freshwater pump for the showers isn't working. Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
** substitute 'Oh!' for something more appropriate.
It's not all been bad news. A big mahi-mahi was caught yesterday afternoon. Hurrah! but it slid off the back of the boat only half-filleted. This isn't a real problem though as it still gave us more than enough fresh fish for the rest of this trip.
Fingers crossed!
M