This is just a short entry for anyone who read our last entry and was expecting us back in the UK soon.  We were ready to leave at 5 a.m. on Tuesday but the engine wouldn’t start.  I tried everything I knew, even called a UK agent for the engine (who was very helpful), but this time it really is beyond me.  We found a local engineer who diagnosed a problem with the injection pump (i.e. much more serious than last time) and within hours had got a specialist out to remove it for repairs – such service!  We’re not sure how long it will take – easily into next week.

On the positive side, at least we missed what could have been a dreadful passage.  The met office is now saying that the low pressure system that was expected to enter Biscay as we were due to be leaving it is arriving earlier, so we could have had our first experience of gale force 8!  No doubt that once the pump is repaired we’ll be waiting on favourable winds yet again.  We had a couple of weeks in hand before we have to get Red Panda into Lymington for the sales period – let’s hope we can still make that deadline. 

Update 26^th Aug:

The engineers had the pump back in and working by the end of the day after they took it out!  It cost a small fortune (€900), but we’re running again and frankly, the engine sounds smoother and quieter than I can remember.  The problem was contaminated fuel again; they think something very small but abrasive had got past the filters, clogged part of the pump which stopped the fuel lubricating it, so it eventually seized up.  Judging by the improved sound, this must have happened a long time ago, so we’re not worried about the current batch of fuel in the tank.

So we need to get back quickly now and will go as soon as today’s strong wind/gale has passed by.  Tomorrow’s forecast is for light and variable winds, lasting most of the way back (4 days?), so the engine will be well tested out.