Galapagos to Marquesas –18 May 2024 – Day 17

We came on watch at 8.00am but before I  had put the generator on to do the daily charge on the batteries. It had been a fairly rolly night and we had been sailing well and fast albeit in a northwesterly direction to get northwest before we turn down to the Marquesas following the models. They take this course to keep in the better winds. We checked the weather and decided to continue for the rest of the day with a view that when we gybed we should be able to aim straight for Nuku Hiva. It is frustrating that we are not able to head for it now but that is sailing and we need to put in the hard miles before our last few days.

We started our daily checks as usual and Keith made some omelette on bread which was a good start. During our daily checks the generator suddenly stopped. One of its safety features must have caused it to shut down. It would start momentarily but then stop so it cannot be a fuel issue or fuel pump and it was not stuttering. When we were on the Atlantic crossing the same thing happened and it was the impeller (rubber wheel which circulates sea water around the engine) and as it was not working it overheated and switched off. Once we replaced it then it worked fine and I thought it may be the same thing again.

We consulted the manual and put out heads together. It  seems that it turns itself off due to a number of reasons, exhaust temperature, engine temperature – ie the sea water circulation or fresh water circulation is not working so it has overheated or no oil. We check the oil everyday so we did not think it was that and the impeller was changed in January so it should not go so quickly. There is a radiator like a car and we have antifreeze in the system and a little header tank like in a car when you check the coolant level. The header tank had enough in it. Ian suggested we take the radiator cap off and see if there was coolant in it as a starting point. We did this and it was empty so we filled the tank and started her up. It worked well and that therefore seemed to be the problem. We charged the batteries and all was good.

However, we got thinking that if the header tank is full why has it not gone into the generator tank? After the generator cooled down we checked the tank again and it needed topping up. We therefore checked the pipe from the header tank and we could not get it off the fitting at the generator end. There was a loose jubilee clip and I could see PTFE (plumbers tape) on the fitting which was dripping. This could well be the real issue that this fitting has been leaking hence why the tank was empty and also a little blocked which is why it is not taking from the header tank. I decided for now that I will use gasket sealer to try and stop the leak and to see if we can take it off when at anchor at Nuku Hiva. Due to the PTFE tape I think this has been an issue on the past. As long as we check we have enough fluid/coolant then we should be able to continue to use it and it is vital for us as we need it to make water and to charge the batteries.

Our shift passed and before the generator went off I did another round of washing. The weather was lovely with sunny skies and small puffy clouds. We chatted, read and rested and the fishing rods went out. We were still sailing fast and in the northwesterly direction. We agreed we would gybe at about 5-5.30pm. We had hoped to use the Blue Baron but the wind strength is too much to use it safely so we will stick with white sails and due to the forecast we may not be able to use it again before Nuke Hiva.

We had a salad and cheese lunch and have now used up our last lettuce and tomatoes and we are now running out of fresh food and meat. We can make bread and have lots of tins, so food will be interesting in our last few days and we are about 3-4 days from the Marquesas. During the afternoon the fishing rods ratchet went off and we had fish on the lines a number of times. One line snapped and with the others somehow the fish managed to escape. We assume that whatever is taking our bate is big. Hopefully at some point we will catch something. Our 24 hour daily run to 12 noon was 175nm which is a good average day.

At about 5.15pm we gybed and our course is good for now and we are aiming just north of Nuku Hiva which is excellent and gives us room for wind changes. The wind is about 15-19 kts and we are pushing on well about 7.5—8.5 kts and this time completely in the right direction.

Supper was pasta pesto with a big of garlic bread followed by water melon. We are settling down to another fast night of sailing. We have still not seen any other boat since the first day and no whales and no dolphins for days. There must be civilisation soon.  We have about 580 miles to go.

Picture of the day – the Generator!!

Crewing Opportunity

We will arrive in the Marquesas in French Polynesia about 20-23 May 2024 and we will then move through to the Tuamotu’s before getting to Tahiti about the end of July 2024. There may be some space on Stormbird during this period should any sailor/reader be interested in joining for this period or part of it in what must be one of the most distant and beautiful places in the world.

Year Two

In addition, in year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and probably across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town and I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we head off to the Marquesas and beyond.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com  I can only upload one picture a day and visit our website www.stormbirdgoesglobal.co.uk