Alan had Star link put on the yacht but it was for the Phillipines and not out at sea. It took until midday Monday to get it again so now we can catch up with family, get wind predictions and catch up on the rugby( the down side of internet as it happens).
As we were heading to the north entrance on Thursday night we lost our navigation momentarily so started the motors to avoid the local fishermen. Unfortunately the port reacher sheet had come undone and fell in the water. You guessed it, wound itself around the prop . Not too much of a problem with 2 motors so we carried on until the next day and when we were becalmed,stopped to clear it
Alan went under and cleared it but discovered that the winding of the rope had pulled the prop shaft out of the dog clutch inside. We decided to think about it and tackle it tomorrow
It’s a relief being out in the ocean with no fish nets or boats around. All you do is watch the radar and check the sails. If there’s a sail change needed you wake up the cabin boy
So the next day during a calm period we attempted the prop shaft. Alan got in the water and after trying to push it in manually, we tied a rope onto the prop and the other end to a block forward and back to the main winch. We then winched the shaft forward while Alan wriggled the prop back and forth and I guided it into the clutch. We discovered the shaft was slightly out of line with the clutch so I lowered the rear engine mounts a little.
SUCCESS. ! And we were off again, no internet at that stage ,but again with 2 motors
It’s worth mentioning here that Alan and I have a few things in common. We both served our apprenticeships at the same time, both on BMCs. Alan on Morris’s me on Austin’s, both got married at 18, both took our eldest sons on honeymoon with us. Mind you he’s 2 months older than me so that’s why he’s captain
He’s also just as bad a fisherman as me. This giant got sick of waiting so just flew on board by himself
No whale sightings yet but there’s been a few birds hitching a ride. This little girl , Fifi we’ve called her, has explored most of the boat. She even landed on Lyudmilas hair. Can’t call her a freeloader though as she took a turn at the helm
We went through another windless patch this morning so we found a waterhole for a swim. In shifts of course
So now that we’ve got ‘predict wind’ we have altered course to clear the top of Palau. Still 2 days away though
Paris to Paris 