Not looking good for Maderia...for a few hours

Position: 29,14.50N , 18,39.43W
Speed: 7 knots, Course: 316 deg.
UTC Time: 12 August 2006 13:11


Last night Jon noticed that the rig was loose, so we had to drop the sails in case the mast fell down. So we then turned on the engine to motor and the engine promptly starting emitting warning buzzing sounds so we had to switch her off. Nightmare. No sails, no engine. Bobbing around the ocean 20 miles of the coast of Las Palmas frantically looking in the books to see which port we could call into. This was at midnight. It was not looking good. After weighing up the pros and cons we decided it was best not to go to the Canaries. We decided instead to motor very slowly forward till morning, when Jon could go up the mast and tighten the rods, and hope that the engine was going to work. We puttered at two knots for 6 hours, using as little of our fuel as we needed and without the engine making any more noises. After Jon had had a decent sleep, he was hoisted up the rig to tighten the bits and bobs. Thankfully this all worked, the wind didn't go away, and we are now sailing again at a respectible eight knots. It is looking like we will still be able to get to Madeira but for a moment last night it was touch and go.

This all happened early this morning. Since then the sun has been shinning and Jon and I have sat out on deck having a chat about solar cars, the media, the news that we don't want to hear. We don't normally do that since when one is on watch the other is usally down below sleeping or doing emails.

Hope you all had a good weekend.