A few more things to add to the snagging list… it’s going to be a busy old time when we get to Grenada! Last night, for no apparent reason (other than to send me to yet another depth of insanity) the wind, speed and depth instruments decided to unintegrate themselves from the Axiom Multi Function Displays… the data is still there and displaying on the individual instruments, but they are taunting me by not showing centrally - clearly after 5 years of faultless working, holding on for another week was just too much of an ask! Trying to deal with Raymarine customer support over Iridium bandwidth constraints adds a whole new level of fun to the exercise!
Sargassum weed continues to be a persistent thorn in my side; no sooner do I spear it with Neptune’s sabre (boathook) to clear the hydrogenerator, a new patch glues itself on! Furthermore, the added strain has caused the plastic rack to break meaning the unit now operates at a jaunty 45 degree angle! Ramoran, who have been very helpful throughout all my hydrogen woes, tell me this is a ‘mechanical fuse’ to prevent damage to generator or boat… maybe they should have put that in the instructions! Anyhow, the plus side to all this is that the prop is less inclined to pick up weed… of course it’s also less inclined to deliver full charge to my batteries, but we can’t have everything can we!
To end today’s rant on a high though, Arkyla continues apace and we are picking off a few more of the fleet. Tomorrow we hit half-way day… from then on in we will be watching the horizon to make sure we don’t inadvertently fall off the edge of the world!