Day 5: Land Ahoy!

Kahia
Paul and Catherine Davis
Thu 7 Nov 2013 01:47
26:47S 153:19E
 
The wind became variable and died down in the night. Just as well, as we still had problems with the engine, spending more time draining the tanks and filters. We had to decant our 5 liter stand-by water bottles into the water tank, as we ran out of spare containers for the contaminated fuel.
Since midnight the engine is running but we have white smoke coming off the exhaust and some knocking in the engine, which we presume is some damage to one or more injectors.
We are now approaching the shipping channel into Morton Bay and hope to make it all ok to the customs dock another 30 miles through the bay and into the Brisbane river.
All sails are down and we are getting the boat ship-shape for customs and pratique, while motoring in very calm and sunny conditions.
 
We should be able to clear in late this afternoon, all going well.
 
120 hour log: covered 726 miles, 96 hours under sail, 24 hours motor-sailing.