Malua is at 22:28.61N  21:47.94W at 0600 on 24/11/2012

We have travelled 528 miles with 2279 to go.

Daily 24 hour run 124 nm

Main item on the agenda for today was to look at the generator to see what caused it to loosing water out of the filler cap.  Something it has done previously but not such great volumes .  I cleaned out the cooling water system but found nothing then took out the thermostat.  Not a good idea on a diesel but still you have to make compromises being so far from land.  Added the water back again and ran the generator for half an hour.  It looked better but not fixed.  While it was running it did add more than 50 amps charge to each battery bank.  I miss this wonderful power source.  While I was getting into the engine room I put my hand up to grap a hand hold and right into the engine room extractor fan.  There was a loud bang and a cry.  Luckily the blades of the fan are only plastic.  My finger is slightly red but two blades from the fan have disappeared so it is unbalanced.  It lasted only a few minutes before it ground to a halt and tripped the fuse.  Just another job for tomorrow.  I hope the fan in the store is still working but I doubt if it is. Now that will be a challenge.

We have been having unusual weather with the wind more from the north and north west.  This has meant that the expected course of SW has not been made and we have had to zig-zag our way south.  I heard on the MOzzie net this morning that the ARC is not going to leave as planned on Sunday but be delayed two day to Tuesday due to a strong southerly in Las Palmas.   To quote one participant “ I’ll be able to finish off the to-do list”  while another “ just more time for a drink and a little party”.

We are making reasonable time but cant wait fro the NE trade winds to fill in and we can sit back and enjoy the down wind ride.

A magical moment on Malua.