14.12.2007
A day of DIY
Whilst Estrella Damm announced its withdrawal from the race this morning, we
also learnt that the two co-skippers of Véolia Environnement were planning a
technical pitstop in the Kerguelen Islands due to serious engine troubles.
Aboard Temenos II, even though the problems pale in comparison, the day has
brought its share of repair jobs nevertheless. The desalinator decided to play
up at breakfast time as Michèle recounted in her email this morning. The days
and nights pass but there are no great changes apparently. The little tack to
make northing has done little to warm up the atmosphere, but it has enabled the
monohull to escape the ice zone and even though this respite will doubtless be
short lived, it is still very welcome.
“6°C this morning in our apartments, I'm typing this missive with wooden
chopsticks instead of my fingers; if only I had some sushi at least!
Another dark night like a lot of others, wet, icy and windy, the eyes fixed on
the instrument displays, the radar and the temperature of the water– yesterday
evening it was oscillating between 1.2 and 1.8°C- , which was permanently
displayed in front of me, the index finger poised to press the automatic pilot
buttons. Despite the fact that the engine is on, we have just 4 little degrees
down below to warm us up. We have ended getting the 'extreme’ duvet out.
The wind is oscillating between 20 and 30 knots, the waves on the beam sending
the boat over on its ear. At times it belts along at over 20 knots in the surf
and then stops brutally at 11 knots. We’re being shaken about, so you have to
hold on so as not to be thrown out of the boat at each instant. Around us
everything is still enveloped in greyness, the water, the sky and even our
faces. A bit of sun would do us the world of good!
We’re struggling with a considerable amount of condensation inside the boat,
which is running everywhere. I used up a few rolls of toilet paper in a bid to
limit the streams of water from the portholes onto the electronics. At the same
time it looks like Christmas tinsel!
This stretch on port tack has enabled us to make a bit of northing. We're out of
the ice zone, which is one less concern. The water temperature has 'climbed', if
you can say that, and at 3°C we have been able to switch off the radar (warning
them of ice).
The desalinator gave up the ghost this morning. With the first spoonful of
muesli with saltwater we said to ourselves that the powdered food wasn't great,
but with the second we understood that it wasn't the recipe or the brand which
was behind it...
I think we’re soon going to attack our 6th week aren’t we? 34 days of racing:
for the first time this morning I counted the days. I'll have to remember to put
a cross on the bulkhead, that would be a lot more practical!”
Contacted in the middle of the afternoon, Dominique indicated to us that despite
several attempts to repair the faulty desalinator with the help of the supplier,
the duo were forced to resort to installing the spare machine. The intervention
doesn’t have huge implications on shore but given the sea state and the cold
described by the sailors over the past few days, this will have required a real
burst of energy from the tandem.
“We've just spent 3 hours doing the mechanics, tools in hand, crawling around on
all fours in the bilges. The installation of the new desalinator took up more
time that we thought. We had to adapt the base, get out the tools and go at it
with a drill. We've just finished and the desalinator seems to be working now."
This is a very good thing considering that their requirements for water onboard
are not limited to drinking, but also ensure the rehydration of the packets of
dried food.
During one of her numerous routine checks around the boat, the French sailor
noticed a fairly abnormal amount of water in the monohull’s bilges. This water
had collected near the battery block and could well have had serious
consequences.
For the time being though the two co-skippers are focussed on determining where
it came from.
“Michèle saw some water in the bilges just under the batteries. We think the
water came from the Z-drive (ref: linked to the engine propeller shaft), so
we’ve tightened up the bolts and will be particularly vigilant over the next few
hours.”
Kate Jennings
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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