Current Position: 17 44.318’S 168 18.643’E; Local Timezone: UTC+21; SOG: 0 kt COG: N/A; TWS: 14 kt; TWD: 121; Distance to Waypoint (Vanuatu, Efata, Port Vila): At Anchor; Total Miles Sailed: 6941 nm;
Comments: I have been looking at potential departure dates and Friday looks good if I can get my work done. I have been considering sailing directly to Darwin and skip Thursday Island. The distance would be similar to the passage from Cabo to the Marquesas, 2900 nm, and would probably take about 28 days. Darwin is perhaps 6 days beyond Thursday (750 nm). The advantage of not stopping is I’d probably save a week (by the time I do the formalities, etc.) and Thursday cannot do the Biosecurity, so I’d have to do that in Darwin anyway. Today I intend to continue with my punch list … focusing on water ingress. There are four problems: 1) water fills the starboard lazarette because the pump in it is places to the aft, which is several inches higher than forward. I need to relocate the pump. 2) the float switch has failed for the midship bilge pump. This is critical because that pump is the main one that keeps most of the bilge dry. I need to find a switch locally. 3) The automatic switch in the shower sump is no longer working. I need to pull the pump and the switch out of there, clean the pump (as it is fouled) and test the switch. I either need to repair the wiring or replace the switch. 4) I need to make a cover for the hawse pipe (chain locker chaise) to help prevent water ingress from the chain locker which in big seas. The float switch midship was indeed faulty and was replaced. The wire for the switch in the shower sump had corroded, was repaired, and now the pump works once more automatically. The shower sump was completely cleaned out and dried, but when the pump was lowered back into it, several inches of water drained from the hose. It appears that the one-way valve is no longer one way. This should not be an issue in that there is an anti-siphon loop. I removed the bilge pump from the lazarette. The plastic is brittle. While I think I can reinstall it in the new location, I am not convinced it is going to last. I have a new bilge pump that is somewhat bigger. It has a float switch built into it. I am going to install the new one, but U need to go to the hardware store too and get some more hose (what I have is a few inches too short).
Comments: I have been looking at potential departure dates and Friday looks good if I can get my work done. I have been considering sailing directly to Darwin and skip Thursday Island. The distance would be similar to the passage from Cabo to the Marquesas, 2900 nm, and would probably take about 28 days. Darwin is perhaps 6 days beyond Thursday (750 nm). The advantage of not stopping is I’d probably save a week (by the time I do the formalities, etc.) and Thursday cannot do the Biosecurity, so I’d have to do that in Darwin anyway. Today I intend to continue with my punch list … focusing on water ingress. There are four problems: 1) water fills the starboard lazarette because the pump in it is places to the aft, which is several inches higher than forward. I need to relocate the pump. 2) the float switch has failed for the midship bilge pump. This is critical because that pump is the main one that keeps most of the bilge dry. I need to find a switch locally. 3) The automatic switch in the shower sump is no longer working. I need to pull the pump and the switch out of there, clean the pump (as it is fouled) and test the switch. I either need to repair the wiring or replace the switch. 4) I need to make a cover for the hawse pipe (chain locker chaise) to help prevent water ingress from the chain locker which in big seas. The float switch midship was indeed faulty and was replaced. The wire for the switch in the shower sump had corroded, was repaired, and now the pump works once more automatically. The shower sump was completely cleaned out and dried, but when the pump was lowered back into it, several inches of water drained from the hose. It appears that the one-way valve is no longer one way. This should not be an issue in that there is an anti-siphon loop. I removed the bilge pump from the lazarette. The plastic is brittle. While I think I can reinstall it in the new location, I am not convinced it is going to last. I have a new bilge pump that is somewhat bigger. It has a float switch built into it. I am going to install the new one, but U need to go to the hardware store too and get some more hose (what I have is a few inches too short).