Current Position: 28 47.476’S 32 04.958’E; Timezone: UTC+2; SOG: 0; COG: N/A; TWS: ?; TWD: ?; Distance to Waypoint (Richards Bay): in a slip at ZYC; Total Miles Sailed: 15574 nm; Engine Hours: 314; Estimate Fuel: 11 +13+50;
Comments: I woke up at 4:30. There is little wind right now, but it is supposed to build in a few hours, so as soon as it is light I will launch the dinghy and repair the windvane. I started work on the windvane and I realized what the problem was. The bolt on the starboard side has a hole drilled through it and is seized with wire so it cannot come off. At some point that bolt in the port side must have gone missing. I replaced the bolt with a lock washer and Loctite 404, but I did not feel comfortable with that and have arranged for a 5/16” bolt to have a hole drilled through it. In the meantime, I worded on the primary winches. I injected insecticide into the bore holes, greased and reassembled the starboard winch. I then disassembled the port winch, then greased and reassembled it. I applied silicon sealant to the bow running lights. At 9:30 I went to pick up the rental car, then went to Standard Bank to try to regain access to my account there. After 2h they still were uncertain what paperwork was necessary and they asked me to come back. I went shopping, then returned to find the bolt for the windvane was drilled, so I could finish fixing the windvane and get the dinghy back on the boat. My last chore in a very busy day was to transfer diesel from the Jerry cans to the main tank. The gauge says there is 15/60 gal in the main tank. I guesstimated 11 gal from the hours of use. I know the gauge is not very accurate. I added 25 gal of fuel and it is now reading 45 gal. My best guess is I need to add another 20 gal to top it off. I believe the 60 gal mark on the tank is pretty accurate. I’ll add the rest of the fuel tomorrow. In addition, I intend to work on the reefing line problem until the part is welded for the boom, then I will work on that until the boom is fixed. I am not going anywhere until the boom is fixed.
Comments: I woke up at 4:30. There is little wind right now, but it is supposed to build in a few hours, so as soon as it is light I will launch the dinghy and repair the windvane. I started work on the windvane and I realized what the problem was. The bolt on the starboard side has a hole drilled through it and is seized with wire so it cannot come off. At some point that bolt in the port side must have gone missing. I replaced the bolt with a lock washer and Loctite 404, but I did not feel comfortable with that and have arranged for a 5/16” bolt to have a hole drilled through it. In the meantime, I worded on the primary winches. I injected insecticide into the bore holes, greased and reassembled the starboard winch. I then disassembled the port winch, then greased and reassembled it. I applied silicon sealant to the bow running lights. At 9:30 I went to pick up the rental car, then went to Standard Bank to try to regain access to my account there. After 2h they still were uncertain what paperwork was necessary and they asked me to come back. I went shopping, then returned to find the bolt for the windvane was drilled, so I could finish fixing the windvane and get the dinghy back on the boat. My last chore in a very busy day was to transfer diesel from the Jerry cans to the main tank. The gauge says there is 15/60 gal in the main tank. I guesstimated 11 gal from the hours of use. I know the gauge is not very accurate. I added 25 gal of fuel and it is now reading 45 gal. My best guess is I need to add another 20 gal to top it off. I believe the 60 gal mark on the tank is pretty accurate. I’ll add the rest of the fuel tomorrow. In addition, I intend to work on the reefing line problem until the part is welded for the boom, then I will work on that until the boom is fixed. I am not going anywhere until the boom is fixed.