Mixed Day

I could not get a radio connection so today's blog and yesterdays will hopefully get out tonight. I just started my watch and we are ghosting along at 4-5 knots. Earlier we were down to ZERO knots and turned on the iron genny (sailor slang for motor) and motor sailed for a few hours, as much to get going as to make juice for our depleted batteries. We had to start using the electric/hydraulic autopilot again. I found the control lines chafing on the wind vane pilot again and upon closer inspection found that a bolt had fallen off the bottom of the frame where it joined to the strut attachment to the hull. Not a good thing. So I found a new bolt, lock washer and washer and replaced it (with Loctite this time), which was no mean feat, again lying on my chest and stomach on top of a very painful deck fitting hanging out over the stern watching the water go by two feet below. I was proud as punch to get that done without dropping anything. Then...I noticed that the welds holding one of the control line blocks had failed and the block was about to pull completely out. I can't fix that on the way without a TIG welder so packed it up and went to Plan B - the backup autopilot which uses electricity.

Every one who cruises knows that cruising is just fixing boat problems in exotic places. We are really cruising! I was a little in the dumps yesterday though. We had torrential rains last night on my watch and when you are going downwind, it blows right into the cockpit where the watchstander (me) sits and you get very wet, very quick. And everything else out with you. And the insides of the main cabin when the watchstander forgets the main cabin top hatch is open. Cindy was not amused when she woke up.

This may be a record breaking year for yachts going to the Marquesas from Mexico - the longest average time to get there ever. The weather pattern is totally abnormal and some of the other boats are obviously not happy. No reason to be though - out here you get what you get and the only normal thing is that every day is different. It may take us an extra week to get there over "average" but we have lots of food. I would like a newspaper though.

We have been reading about the Marquesas and it is obvious that we could spend longer than the time our visas will be good for there. You only get a max of 90 days (30 + 60 extension) if you are US, and that is for all of French Polynesia - Marquesas, Tuamotos, and the Societies (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, etc.). We could spend 60 in the Marquesas and 60 in the Societies but will have to plan our travels for 90. We are totally psyched and amazed we are really doing it, and thankful that we are able to.

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