Friday 18/03

I went for a run first thing in the morning which with hindsight of the effort required ahead wasn’t a very good idea. Already hot from the run we make the most of the calm morning to hoist the mainsail so we can inspect and clean it.

It’s very hot, hard work and we quickly overcome minor problems with stuck reefing lines. Grinding the mainsail up and down has me in tatters so I decide there will be no need for the gym today. By the time we have finished the main halyard is moving a lot more freely so it should be easier next time. A combination of sorting the reefing lines and liberally applying WD-40 to the sliders on the mast gradually makes progress less arm breaking.

We empty out detritus that has accumulated in the sail’s folds and carefully clean stains that we find. Both sails are in good shape which is very good news.

We sit down for lunch at 1.30 but are interrupted by Wichus the mechanic’s early arrival. Neither of us complain, we are delighted to see him.

Wichus quietly goes about is work but there is a lot of head scratching as the engine refuses to start. He steps back to re-diagnose what can be going wrong convinced that the engine should be starting. The problem he surmises is that the new/refurbished injectors are putting too much fuel into the cylinder. He sees a spray rather than a fine mist. On first turn over the engine tries to combust but the excessive diesel is flooding the cylinder.

Al goes over the diagnosis carefully with “Wichus” and Edwin the marina yard manager is summoned to the boat for a confab. I make myself scarce as it is hotter than hell both above and below deck.

Ultimately the injectors are being returned to whence they came to be recalibrated to match our engine (work covered under warranty). But this will cause another number of days delay.

Time perhaps for me to find some touristic activity to occupy these next few days.