16:11.09N 38:54.90W

Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Thu 29 Nov 2007 13:36
Yesterday, Gremlins arrived in all their grimness. Whilst minor problems are commonplace on yachts, solving them is part of the pleasure - acceptable masochism of sailing. Three major problems arising in 24 hours however, were enough to bring on Ellen McArthur like tears.

Soon after dawn we needed to find out why during the night, the mainsail could not be hoisted beyond the top cross tree. All the usual culprits had been excluded but after one hour or so we thought it may be due to a faulty Frederickson bearing slide at the head board (top of the sail), since some of the roller bearings were missing. The problem was solved by a replacement.

At supper time - it always seems to be meal times for such shenanigans - the generator packed up: no coolant water from the exhaust; much water in the bilge; no obvious cause on cursory examination in the dark. The skipper was wisely constrained to postpone further investigation until dawn.

Then in the middle of the night precious "Gertie", our adorable and faithful wind vane self steerer, tried to jump ship and detach herself from the transom. The fixing bolts had worked loose, one completely, but miraculously not yet dispatched to the briny. Realignment to reinsert this bolt, difficult enough even when Gaudeo is out of the water, was achieved after 2 hours with the help of rope guys, wedges, JQ & RB hanging over the stern, and assisted in good measure by Father Neptune.

Back to the generator at first light. The cause was easily found - a fractured copper pipe at the base of the salt/fresh water heat exchange unit; not simple to repair given limited available equipment. A temporary botch up, similar to much of my surgery, - "inspired improvisation" is the usual euphemism! - had to wait for 24 hours for sealants to "cure" before the successful trial run this morning. Edicts about water rationing, bathing with a friend etc, issued in the manner of Denis Howell, ex Labour Minister for Weather, could now be relaxed, though some members of the crew preferred the restriction having found a regime of cleanliness when fresh water was abundant to be a little out of character with earlier sailing adventures.

During all this, we have passed the half way mark, sadly with only 1500 miles to go.We have headed a little south of the rhumb line as winds are forecast to become lighter to the north over the next few days in contrast to the excellent west going trades of 18-22 knots which, for the last 4-5 days, have pushed us along at 6-7 knots with one or two reefs in the mainsail.

Latest from the Astro/nav Academy: "Jupiter always seems to be in hiding; Venus is less fickle"; an alternative use of the sextant for calculating our position involves "bringing the horizon up to Polaris"- but can`t understand how JL can do this without standing on his head.