Day 21 - Oops engine stops
Bonkers
Donald Macdonald
Sun 4 Feb 2024 19:24
The wind continued to die into the night. By the 2300 watch change 2-3 knots only so decided this was the time to use limited fuel and look for 12-14 hours guaranteed 5 knots boat speed, with another 12 hours available if needed from out calculations on useage. We estimated that we had 30 litres still in the tank and 20 in jerry can. Off we went with jib furled and put 2 reefs in the nain to stop it backwinding and then slapping in the swell. All going well on the 0600-0900 watch (mine today, locally would be 0300-0600). Went down below to get latest weather about 0745. Just pressed send on computer to get data, there was an omnious rapid change of revs on the engine, bolted out from chart table to back of cockpit to switch engine off. Suspected fuel starvation, all the same did a check over the engine, oil, leaks, primed fine filter to see if air came out a little did, even though the coarse fuel bowl could see fuel in it bit a bit milky like. This inspection after the main
nfully
hoisted and furling jib back out. Nothing I could do about it then but try and sail managed 2-3 knots. All this with John alseep oblivious to the drama we had until watch change. As still dark did not do anything on this front just tried to keep the boat moving. I was on a 4 hour off watch now, after just an hours interrupted sleep got up to investigte in daylight. John at this time refuelled with the final 20 litres of diesel. The guage went from solidly empty to reading a 1/4 scale (I now know this means 20 litres and the scale is not linear). I then primed all the low pressure side and then the moment of truth, start it. It did after a second and we let it run for 3 minutes all seems good, will find out if works when we try to get into Nelson's Dockyard maina. We shall not be using any engine if we hit another zero wind patch.
Calculations done by knowing exactly how much fuel we have used before starvation indicate we have been using 2 litres and hour, my calculations before were based on 1 1/2 litres per hour, 25% error. OOPS!
As the day has gone on the wind has been with us and now we are seeing 8-10 knots at times. To encourage our speed the black spinnaker went up ap at 1400, again John was having a sleep and not aware until I mentioned it. We hope to keep it up all night although pitch black night until 0520 when a 1/4 moon rises, better see if we have some carrots for dinner.
It is very much like a sauna down here in the cabin, now registering 35C without any through draft, as at sea no hatches open and fans we have not feasible to mount enroute. Somehow John sleeps better than I do in these conditions, in th elast 2 off periods have available 7 hours sleep managed 2-3.
Dinner will be Chunky Chicken and vegetable soup, peas (unable to see carrots), baguette, cheese then mandarins in juice.
111nm to go. 2841nm done.
Hope the Perisher sailors got their 1st races of 2024 in.