A few days ago I turned on the engine to charge the batteries, with engine
in gear after half hour we suddenly heard this 'clunk' and the engine
stalled. I said "Oh sh** what's caused that, don't panic!" I opened the
Inspection Hatch in the cockpit to check the propeller shaft, Rosie started
the engine again in neutral, engine started OK, I thought "great, is it the
gearbox?" Put the engine into gear and could see the prop shaft was under
pressure so quickly knocked it into neutral realising there was something
around the propeller.
I looked over the stern and there was a f****** big thick nylon rishing rope
trailing from the stern. I got the boathook and managed to pull some of it
up, but it was solidly secure around the prop. which meant getting into the
sea to free it!
Yesterday we had to do a sail-change to set the spinaker pole on the
opposite Port side, so we decided to stop the boat sailing and Hove-to,
which is the first time we have done this in Barada. With wetsuit,
weightbelt, fins, snorkel, knife and rope securely tied around me and back
to a winch for Rosie to manage, I jumped in, and into a big swell I might
add, bashing my head on the hull a few times, but not too seriously - but I
freed the rope without having to use the knife.
Today we have run the engine and the prop is fine - another drama over.
Everytime I was down at the prop I had a quick scan around for any
predators, but thankfully Steve, uwill be pleased to know that I didn't see
any sharks. You have to be ready for anything when sailing!
Last night on both Rosie's Watches, when she came up on deck a dark and
ominous skyline was awaiting, and on both occasions she was subject to
torrential rain and high winds to 24+knots gusting. Are these Caribean
cloudbursts, I hope not?
Counting down the miles - now 563 to go.
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