08:49.327S 131:24.039W - An Altogether Better Day
Irene IV - World Adventure
Louis Goor
Thu 31 Mar 2022 01:56
Well, we are happy to report that the water maker is (sort of) fixed, having
been tricked into submission, Peggy Perkins the engine is purring happily,
and to cap it all, John caught a beautiful 5 kilo yellow fin tuna yesterday
afternoon! For the past few days without the engine, we have sailed more
efficiently than we perhaps would have if the engine were working. As we
keep saying, we are here to sail, not to motor. Many boats had generously
offered to come back and help us if we got into trouble - one of the many
benefits of being part of a rally.
Enda wrote the following hilarious account of his work on the water maker:
"Bobbing around the South Pacific. Lying in the cockpit gazing at the
heavens, simultaneously amazed and surreal. You can only feel in awe and be
overjoyed at the experience.
"Water maker!" - the cry went up by the supreme commander of the Oyster
world rally fleet, "water rations are in force until further notice." A drab
crew set about their daily chores contemplating how this might affect us as
we struggled to find the wind to carry us to our destination, still 730
miles away. Not to fear, the engineering team are here.to drink tea and have
constructive discussions, not to be distracted by such nonsense, young Rob,
quickly rallied the cats with, "Well chaps what is the plan?"
The plan was: Let's swap this bit for that and then follow this pipe and
that wire, no let's look at the manual! Then when all synapses dry up and no
more ideas appear.ok, let's switch it on.fail! Try again.fail! Many, many
thoughts later .What if we try dipping a highly sensitive and complicated
sensor into fresh water, then salt water, then fresh water again? It was
then agreed by the committee, (without issuing a memo, I might add), that a
solution, or rather the fix, was to put the sensitive sensor into a bag of
water, seal it there and hey presto.water maker works!
If you are confused by this tale, then mission accomplished, as I'm equally
confused by the outcome!"
All joking aside, we are happy to have water, albeit a little salty. The
crew had a south pacific swim this morning, followed by a freshwater
shower.simple pleasures!
We are grateful to the beautiful yellow fin tuna for giving her life for our
eating gratification - sashimi with soy sauce and wasabi, followed by seared
steaks, with a hint of coriander, and miso soup for lunch today, using the
stock made from her head, tail, and bones.
Joe Wall, at JLGoor Ltd., a braver man never there was, sent us an update on
the news about microplastics in human blood. It turns out that the sample
size was 22 people and that they were all probably students who drink a good
amount of soda from plastic bottles. However, as he wisely says, the news is
out now, and more research will surely follow.