Dear fresh water drinkers,
Sea of Timor, June 15, 08h30. Under sail again. Finally under sail again after 36 hours of engines. With a true wind speed of 6 knots we sail at 4.2 knots. About the ground.
So you can subtract another 0.8 knot for the current. Two more points of wind and then we will make up for our average again. But that's what we've been doing for the last 36 hours. She is a fantastic sailing ship. And engines are fine too. Just over idle and she runs at 5.2 knots, which is also the most ideal speed with the least noise from propeller shaft and engine. We checked the drive train in Darwin and changed the engine oil.
Replacing the v belt of the 12V alternator as it had the wrong kind fitted and that caused so much friction on the alternator pulley it became very hot, noisy and the belt was completely eaten up resulting in an engine that was completely covered in rubber dust . Fortunately, we have a vacuum cleaner on board. You could clearly hear that good old Perkins was happy with the attention he had received. However, we still have no idea what GOP consumes. That makes it a bit difficult to estimate how long we can keep engines full. The tank cannot be gauged, the hour counter is broken and there is no fluid flow meter on it. We have no idea. Hence the two 20l jerry cans on board.
The great thing about two days of calm sailing on the engine is undoubtedly nature. You see more animals than when you are sailing. At night there is that beautiful fairy-like phytoplankton that brightens up your propeller water and wake very nicely. When you look up you see the countless stars and galaxy from horizon to the horizon. Almost as beautiful as in the movie Pi. Only it is clear blue there with a lot of light and that is not the case in real life. I can imagine that people find the real image a bit more boring. But yes fiction is easy to make exciting. That's why these pieces are a bit boring..
The waiting system is also back in full swing. 4 on 4 off. Turning it in was now easier than the first time. And that's nice. We are now sailing towards Coco's Keeling, still 1766 miles on the counter. That is 18 days at 4.2 knots, so that will have to be a little faster given the wind forecast.
Grt
