Well the engine mounts were fitted today. All is good. We are ready to travel South now.
Yesterday after sailing into Muddy Bay we had water in the bilges again! Determined to find out where it is coming from we popped open the engine compartment and studied it together, and thats when we got the idea to look in the compartment behind the engine, where the rudder sits.
BINGO water in all the compartments back there!! Turns out that the caulking in the last step was just about gone. took us a 1 1/2 hrs to clear the back compartment as there is no bilge pump system there. It was cup to bucket, and our handy little vacume pump. Once again we have dry bilges! Today after the mechanic left Bruce scraped out what was left of the old caulking, dried it, and re-caulked it. It was flat calm when we motored across to Cid Harbor so it wasn't much of a test. It will be something we will have to keep an eye on.
Looks like we have some traveling weather until Tuesday maybe even a bit longer. Not sure where we go from here we will be getting the charts out next to have a look. I will post along the way when I can.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Bait reef photos
Saddler Butterflyfish was playing with me swimming away then towards me this shot is his face looking at me.
Sandperch
School of Hump head parrot fish
Cod under a coral ledge
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Finally Bait reef!
We made it out to Bait Reef yesterday. Was a bit daunting as the stake that marks the entrance was missing and in it's place is a buoy, but there are several buoys here. Not to worry Bruce says it will all get clearer as we get closer. I'm on the helm and Bruce is on the bow. One of the things we learned last time was communication, so I mentioned to get out our headsets. We put them on and I went up to the starboard bow, and we find our way into the lagoon.
We picked up the middle mooring in the 3 that were vacant, as we never been to this one. Once settled in we have some lunch enjoying the absolutely still calm day. The only thing really missing is the sun, it is hazy out with thin clouds across the sky. We got ourselves ready and went for a snorkel in a few different spots. Is so good to be on the reef again.To top the day off we had an beautiful sunset.
Today was totally different then yesterday. We got the sun, but we also got some wind. Blowing 15 kts most of the day, making the area very lumpy. We were planning a dive for today and it is a good thing as it is too rough to snorkel. I had a bit of trouble once in the water my mask didn't fit properly ( I was trying to use the photo mask), and was filling with water. Still on the surface I'm trying to adjust it when I cop a wave in my face and swallow a heap of salt water. Cough cough I need my other mask please. Bruce pulls himself over the side of the dingy and gets my mask. By now I'm not exactly calm and Bruce tells me to relax. It takes me a while, but I finally calm down and get into the rhythm of my breath. We are on our way and I realize I don't have my camera, but didn't want to turn around to go back. It was a good thing as there were times when we were down as deep as 30 feet, and my camera is only rated for 10 ft. We made it back towards the dingy just as the air was starting to get hard to draw. We dove for about 1 1/2 hours on one battery so that is why it was getting harder to breath, and the fact that we were diving so deep at times. It was good to give it a go again, and we decided this next year we try and use it a lot more to get more comfortable with it.
We will head back to Airlie Beach tomorrow and anchor in Muddy Bay. We made arrangements to have the engine mounts installed on Friday morning, after that we should be on our way. Signal too weak to upload photos so will load them up tomorrow.
We picked up the middle mooring in the 3 that were vacant, as we never been to this one. Once settled in we have some lunch enjoying the absolutely still calm day. The only thing really missing is the sun, it is hazy out with thin clouds across the sky. We got ourselves ready and went for a snorkel in a few different spots. Is so good to be on the reef again.To top the day off we had an beautiful sunset.
Today was totally different then yesterday. We got the sun, but we also got some wind. Blowing 15 kts most of the day, making the area very lumpy. We were planning a dive for today and it is a good thing as it is too rough to snorkel. I had a bit of trouble once in the water my mask didn't fit properly ( I was trying to use the photo mask), and was filling with water. Still on the surface I'm trying to adjust it when I cop a wave in my face and swallow a heap of salt water. Cough cough I need my other mask please. Bruce pulls himself over the side of the dingy and gets my mask. By now I'm not exactly calm and Bruce tells me to relax. It takes me a while, but I finally calm down and get into the rhythm of my breath. We are on our way and I realize I don't have my camera, but didn't want to turn around to go back. It was a good thing as there were times when we were down as deep as 30 feet, and my camera is only rated for 10 ft. We made it back towards the dingy just as the air was starting to get hard to draw. We dove for about 1 1/2 hours on one battery so that is why it was getting harder to breath, and the fact that we were diving so deep at times. It was good to give it a go again, and we decided this next year we try and use it a lot more to get more comfortable with it.
We will head back to Airlie Beach tomorrow and anchor in Muddy Bay. We made arrangements to have the engine mounts installed on Friday morning, after that we should be on our way. Signal too weak to upload photos so will load them up tomorrow.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday 6th of Dec
Yesterday was an even hotter day. The heat so intense I didn't have the energy to walk to town to sit in the pool. We did a few more little chores on the boat. Dried the sails, repaired a small catch in the mainsail, fan repair, and a bit more cleaning.
It's Monday now and it turns out the engine mounts haven't even left Melbourne yet. I couldn't bare another minute in the marina, so I talked Bruce (wasn't to hard) into heading out for maybe the reef tomorrow if weather still permits. We thought we would go to Stonehaven to sit for the night, and leave from there out to Bait reef. It was 1 before we got the news on the part, so we didn't have time to go to far. It took us about 15 minutes to ready the boat and we were off. Just out of the channel making our way, Bruce checking the port engine to hear, see feel the difference in the new engine mounts on that side, and he was just back up in the cockpit when a bilge alarm started going off. Starboard side Bruce quickly lifts the floor boards and we have water just about to overflow the bilges. He checks the engine and sees water flooding in through a hose, and we quickly shut down the engine. I'm at the helm just keeping her into the wind, which was blowing from the North about 15 kts. For some reason Bruce can't get the main bilge pump to operate. The emergency pump was doing ok keeping up with the water, but the main pump was needed to empty it. Hand pumped for a bit to remove the massive amount of water until he finally got it apart to find twine was wrapped around the impeller. Once remove the pump worked fine. Bruce repaired the hose clamp that had come loose. (thinking it must have been kicked or bumped when they were in there the other day checking the engine mount) We started the engine up again, and all was going good. We had a big mess to clean in the bilge once again!
By now I had us on course making our way into some rough bit of water with spring ebb tide against the 15 + kts of wind. Bruce is trying to cool off in the breeze as it is stinking hot, and he has been down below with the hot engine. With the strong ebb tide helping us to make a better track with the North wind I asked Bruce once he caught his breath if we can raise the sails. We were having a beaut sail out to Stonehaven when Mackay weather comes on with a severe thunderstorm warning coming our way. I'm beginning to wonder if my impatience is going to turn into a BIG problem after all we are running with a broken engine mount that could have the potential of causing a huge amount of damage if further damaged. We are just about there when we hear more on the radio that the storm is approaching our area and we can expect 50 kts of wind. We started the engines and decided to bring down the sails to motor into the moorings. We spot a couple of moorings in the SW corner and head in. We tied up and began getting the boat ready for the storm. Still sweltering in the heat both of us dripping sweat we went about our jobs. Once she was all stowed away we decided to get the bilges all clean out AGAIN! This is the 3rd time in 2 months. Between the two of us we had it finished in about an hour. Showered and had a cool drink on the bow.
Nearly 6 hours later and we never did have the storm probably because we were all prepared. We did have a few spots of rain, and a bit of a wind shift that cooled things down. YAY at present it is back to calm winds not enough to turn the windy stick. Here's to more adventures in paradise!!!!
It's Monday now and it turns out the engine mounts haven't even left Melbourne yet. I couldn't bare another minute in the marina, so I talked Bruce (wasn't to hard) into heading out for maybe the reef tomorrow if weather still permits. We thought we would go to Stonehaven to sit for the night, and leave from there out to Bait reef. It was 1 before we got the news on the part, so we didn't have time to go to far. It took us about 15 minutes to ready the boat and we were off. Just out of the channel making our way, Bruce checking the port engine to hear, see feel the difference in the new engine mounts on that side, and he was just back up in the cockpit when a bilge alarm started going off. Starboard side Bruce quickly lifts the floor boards and we have water just about to overflow the bilges. He checks the engine and sees water flooding in through a hose, and we quickly shut down the engine. I'm at the helm just keeping her into the wind, which was blowing from the North about 15 kts. For some reason Bruce can't get the main bilge pump to operate. The emergency pump was doing ok keeping up with the water, but the main pump was needed to empty it. Hand pumped for a bit to remove the massive amount of water until he finally got it apart to find twine was wrapped around the impeller. Once remove the pump worked fine. Bruce repaired the hose clamp that had come loose. (thinking it must have been kicked or bumped when they were in there the other day checking the engine mount) We started the engine up again, and all was going good. We had a big mess to clean in the bilge once again!
By now I had us on course making our way into some rough bit of water with spring ebb tide against the 15 + kts of wind. Bruce is trying to cool off in the breeze as it is stinking hot, and he has been down below with the hot engine. With the strong ebb tide helping us to make a better track with the North wind I asked Bruce once he caught his breath if we can raise the sails. We were having a beaut sail out to Stonehaven when Mackay weather comes on with a severe thunderstorm warning coming our way. I'm beginning to wonder if my impatience is going to turn into a BIG problem after all we are running with a broken engine mount that could have the potential of causing a huge amount of damage if further damaged. We are just about there when we hear more on the radio that the storm is approaching our area and we can expect 50 kts of wind. We started the engines and decided to bring down the sails to motor into the moorings. We spot a couple of moorings in the SW corner and head in. We tied up and began getting the boat ready for the storm. Still sweltering in the heat both of us dripping sweat we went about our jobs. Once she was all stowed away we decided to get the bilges all clean out AGAIN! This is the 3rd time in 2 months. Between the two of us we had it finished in about an hour. Showered and had a cool drink on the bow.
Nearly 6 hours later and we never did have the storm probably because we were all prepared. We did have a few spots of rain, and a bit of a wind shift that cooled things down. YAY at present it is back to calm winds not enough to turn the windy stick. Here's to more adventures in paradise!!!!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Markets
We are enjoying our time here at Airlie Beach. The sun came out today, and it turned into a nice day, very hot!!! We strolled down to the markets, had a lunch out, and then sat in the lagoon pool for a while cooling down. Once we walked back to the boat we were so hot again. We got the hose out and wet ourselves down, and while we were at it we cleaned the cockpit. The weather is so calm at the moment in hurts to be sitting here in the marina!!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Ca Ching
We did really good. By the end of the day we had all of our chores finished, and even had a mechanic organized to fix our broken engine mount Friday morning. To celebrate we went out to dinner at Fish D'vine. Highly recommend this place. The food was so fresh and tasty! They also have a RUM Bar which sells 300 different kinds of RUM! We tried a couple of really nice rum liqueurs.
We are now in Abel Point Marina. CA Ching that is the sound of more money spending. We were scheduled to leave this morning. We found out this morning that we don't have a broken engine mount......we have 3 broken engine mounts, with only 2 in stock. The others aren't arriving until Monday. We will replaced the 4th one as well. The port side is fixed now. Bruce says we were so lucky it didn't do any damage to the sail drive with both mounts broken it is a possibility. I did come up with the idea of sourcing them in Mackay, and driving down to get them it would be cheaper then sitting here all weekend. They have what we need in stock, BUT turns out the road between here and there is closed. For some reason unknown to us we are meant to sit here. We trust in that, so we will just go with the flow. I might even get some Christmas shopping done today!!!
That is all for now.
We are now in Abel Point Marina. CA Ching that is the sound of more money spending. We were scheduled to leave this morning. We found out this morning that we don't have a broken engine mount......we have 3 broken engine mounts, with only 2 in stock. The others aren't arriving until Monday. We will replaced the 4th one as well. The port side is fixed now. Bruce says we were so lucky it didn't do any damage to the sail drive with both mounts broken it is a possibility. I did come up with the idea of sourcing them in Mackay, and driving down to get them it would be cheaper then sitting here all weekend. They have what we need in stock, BUT turns out the road between here and there is closed. For some reason unknown to us we are meant to sit here. We trust in that, so we will just go with the flow. I might even get some Christmas shopping done today!!!
That is all for now.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Dec 1st
Approaching Olden Island
TS at acnchor with the mainland behind her
Storms in the passage
First day of summer! We have had a bit of a rest day today. We have been going since we left Orpheus island on Saturday. We left Maggie early on Sunday for cape Upstart. The last 4 hours was a fantastic sail!!! Sailed right into the anchorage. We had a bit of a problem with the bottom bat car. The one that Bruce has repaired had come undone, and since it is glued to the batten, we will have to wait until we can get a new batten to change out with a new car. In the mean time we repaired that one again. We didn't sail at all on the way down, so it should have had time to dry and set in.
Don't know what happened to the predicted NE winds?? They never came. We were punching into SE 15 kts all day. Some of the time it got quite lumpy! NE were predicted again yesterday & today, but once again SE all day. Which doesn't matter to much for us at the moment because we came into Olden island which is protected from SE & NE. We had a bit of a rest day today. Was nice to have a couple of morning to do my yoga as I haven't had time since we left on Saturday. We did get a shore between showers and had a bit of a walk along the beach.
We are moving on in the morning.
It is a lovely spot, and we have really enjoyed the solitude of the anchorage. Tomorrow into Airlie for some groceries, fuel, and some laundry. We want to be ready for Friday in case these NE winds do come in!
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