Heading Off - Well sort of...
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 7 August 2009 | Views [604]
Bob got dropped off by Joan at the marina and we all had our last shore meal for a few days. Was great to see Joan.We left today at about 2pm. Was a typical freezing Melbourne day. I tried new sea sick tabs that you can only obtain from one pharmacy in New Zealand. first time ever that I havnt been sea sick!
weather lived up to the forecast at times. averaging 25 knots most of the time but squalls of around 40. Just on nightfall a large wave boarded the boat and engulfed us. Was a bit of a surprise to us all. With the swell building we headed to Flinders and picked up a mooring for the night. Weather looks a lot better tomorrow so we will get a good night sleep and head out at dawn. Its a full moon tonight as we roll around on our mooring.
we woke up yesterday morning with the weather perfect for some serious sailing. We had a quick breakfast and motored out into Bass Straight from our mooring at Flinders. Bob went below and as he did we lost all power to the engine. Once i stopped the boat we got all the engine covers off through all the steam and smoke to find that a coolant hose had come off.
As first i thought it a good thing and reconnected the hose and re filled the engine with water expecting no damage. Once the engine was re started there was a loud knock that we have worked out is a damaged valve. In short.... the engine has had its last use.
we sailed back to Yaringa boat harbour in Somerville where it is now arranged for the engine to be removed this week. the new engine will be delivered from Coffs Harbour by Wednesday and hopefully we will be running by the end of next week.
Disappointing but we are back safe and this wont hold things up for long. As the saying goes... 'Sailing is traveling to exotic ports to work on your boat'
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