Current Position: 33 57.997’S 25 38.094’E; Timezone: UTC+2; SOG: 0; COG: N/A; TWS: 17; TWD: 270; Current Speed, 0 kt; Current Direction, N/A; Distance to Waypoint (Port Elizabeth): Moored; Total Miles Sailed: 16072 nm; Engine Hours: 324; Estimate Fuel: 36+15+50;
Comments: I was awaken at 2:00 by an unusual noise, like perhaps a bilge pump going off. I checked the bilges and found the shower sump bilge essentially dry. There was relatively little liquid in the main bilge as well, but it had a strange red color, like the color of ATF. I checked the level of the fluids in the engine and transmission, and the water, oil, and ATF were fine. Although the fluid in the bilge looked like it flowed from the engine room (there was some on top of the diesel tank), the sump of the engine compartment was dry and there was no evidence anything has been leaking. I checked beneath the sink and could not find any containers leaking there. All I can think of is I ran the watermaker while offshore just to purge it. It was my intention to just let the desalinated water flow into the sink, but the spicket was twisted and the water ran onto the counter (and presumably ended up in the bilge). I cannot be certain how much water ended up there, but from the time the watermaker was running, I am guessing 1-2 gallons. Perhaps something got washed down there in the circuitous route the water took. I fell back asleep about 3 and slept until 5:30. Checked the weather … still a go for tomorrow. Looks like the weather will be good all week … at least until Friday. I left for my massage about 8:30 and returned about 11:00. I baked three pizzas for the passage and then took a 2h nap. The ECMWF was updated at 9:00. The weather looks good for a 9:00 departure tomorrow. The wind will be light initially, making it easier to get out of the marina, but will pick up around noon offshore. It will be a 3.5d passage, putting me at HB about midnight Wednesday morning. I will try to time my arrival at the marina for dawn. The wind will pick up during the day and see 40 kt gusts by afternoon. Dawn is supposed to be 9-20 with 28 gusts., but of course that forecast may change between now and then. I entered a series of waypoints. Basically, I plan to clear Cape Recife, then head for a waypoint about 5 nm S of Cape Agulhas. Once clear, I will set a NW course for Cape Maclear and Hout Bay, taking advantage of the Benguela current as I can.
Comments: I was awaken at 2:00 by an unusual noise, like perhaps a bilge pump going off. I checked the bilges and found the shower sump bilge essentially dry. There was relatively little liquid in the main bilge as well, but it had a strange red color, like the color of ATF. I checked the level of the fluids in the engine and transmission, and the water, oil, and ATF were fine. Although the fluid in the bilge looked like it flowed from the engine room (there was some on top of the diesel tank), the sump of the engine compartment was dry and there was no evidence anything has been leaking. I checked beneath the sink and could not find any containers leaking there. All I can think of is I ran the watermaker while offshore just to purge it. It was my intention to just let the desalinated water flow into the sink, but the spicket was twisted and the water ran onto the counter (and presumably ended up in the bilge). I cannot be certain how much water ended up there, but from the time the watermaker was running, I am guessing 1-2 gallons. Perhaps something got washed down there in the circuitous route the water took. I fell back asleep about 3 and slept until 5:30. Checked the weather … still a go for tomorrow. Looks like the weather will be good all week … at least until Friday. I left for my massage about 8:30 and returned about 11:00. I baked three pizzas for the passage and then took a 2h nap. The ECMWF was updated at 9:00. The weather looks good for a 9:00 departure tomorrow. The wind will be light initially, making it easier to get out of the marina, but will pick up around noon offshore. It will be a 3.5d passage, putting me at HB about midnight Wednesday morning. I will try to time my arrival at the marina for dawn. The wind will pick up during the day and see 40 kt gusts by afternoon. Dawn is supposed to be 9-20 with 28 gusts., but of course that forecast may change between now and then. I entered a series of waypoints. Basically, I plan to clear Cape Recife, then head for a waypoint about 5 nm S of Cape Agulhas. Once clear, I will set a NW course for Cape Maclear and Hout Bay, taking advantage of the Benguela current as I can.