Galapagos to Marquesas – 6 May 2024 – Day 5– Longest 24 hour run

Charles and  I came on at 8.00am having done the 11.00pm to 2.00am watch which was pretty uneventful, apart from putting one reef in the main as the wind got up to 24 kts. We were sailing well and pretty well on course.

Keith made some bacon and egg sandwiches and we had jobs to do. We decided to give the decks and cockpit a wash and Charles and I got out the fire hose from the  anchor locker which fits into a fitting at the mast. It was not easy with a rolling deck to hose and brush but we did it. We then lifted the cockpit floor housing, which is like a teak wooden mesh and it is amazing how much rubbish falls through and collects there. It felt good to give her a good clean. We put on the generator to charge the batteries and we needed to make water as we had used up one tank. We then went through the daily boat checks and we needed to whip (put whipping twine round a rope join to prevent it coming apart) the preventer which stops the boom from swinging over in an uncontrolled gybe. This will prevent it from coming apart.

We needed some more bread and Ian wanted to make a loaf and did so – see the picture. I went to turn the generator off and after I had done so, we noticed a slight sulphur smell. We opened the battery locker under the floor and the smell was obvious. We had been looking at the % of charge on the battery sensors and they were up to 100%. We then felt near the batteries and the 12 volt battery which drives our 12 volt system (what we call the domestic system)  felt hot. We then looked at the voltage stage of this battery and it was 11.2 and should have been at least 12.6. We therefore think that there is a faulty plate in the battery. The problem with this is that we use the 12 volt system for all our instruments and VHF radio and for charging phones etc. We had seen a message on the VHF radio and couple of times of low voltage and could not understand it. We now may have an explanation.

We chatted it through. We have a large number of 6 volt batteries in series which run our 24 v system. We have a large 12 volt battery for the domestic 12 volt system which is the one with the fault and a large truck type 12 volt battery which is only used to start the engine or generator. We therefore could swap over the two, but we would have to be careful not to run that battery down otherwise we may not be able to start our engine or generator and that would be a problem, as not only could we not generate any power but also we could not make water.

I sent a message to the electrician that I used in the Hamble in the UK, but it is a bank holiday. I have also emailed an agent in the Marquesas to see if he can get me a replacement battery. For now, we will continue to charge and monitor but it is not ideal that we have about 2,400 nm to sail to one of the remotest places on earth with this issue.  I think we can manage it and if necessary use the starting battery and make sure that is well charged and maintained.

This is a little worrying. The good news was that our 24-hour run to 12.00noon was 179 nm which I think is a record on this trip. This cheered us all up, with my guessing 178 and Ian 180 so we both won as we were  equally close. We had a salad, meat, fish ceviche lunch with some bread that Mark had made on his 2.00am to 5.00am watch.

We are still eating lots of bananas and melon and papaya and due to the fact that we have some many bananas Mark has attempted a Banana Cake.

We whiled the afternoon away and Charles cooked a delicious fish stew which was all enjoyed for supper. We then tried the banana cake which was very good although Mark thought it was bit dense. As the chocolate brownies have gone I suspect the cake will go overnight on the watches.

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