Just one Problem

Pemandia
Peter Fabricius
Sun 29 May 2016 14:50
When I arrived in Ponta Delgada, I was a bit surprised at the level of water in the bilge. I had been fairly relaxed about pumping because we do not have leaks, but considering the weather I had been through it was probably reasonable. After all there had been a full gale and several days of going to windward in F6/7 with maximum recorded wind speed of 43 knots. So I pumped it dry and got on with other business.

On Friday evening - after office closing hours - I realised there was more water in the bilge. Not a lot and it was possible that it was slowly draining through a blocked limber hole. So I pumped again and started to look.

All the skin fittings were clean, dry and intact so I started to lift some floor boards. To my alarm I could see a hairline crack around the base of the compression post which supports the deck stepped mast. It was wet. I mopped and watched. And watched and mopped. There seems to be a slow leak.

Alarmed, I telephone our insurers, Pantaenius who have been incredibly helpful and supportive. The knowledgable and supportive voice of Debbie was a great reassurance.

Since then I have been in touch with the surveyor, Duncan Sweet at Mid Atlantic Yacht Services in Horta (150 miles away) and I have got some more information from Olle Andersson who imported all the Uk Malos. He has a huge amount of knowledge and experience on the construction. It is still possible that the water has come down the mast wiring and I found and drained one pocket of seawater that may have been contributing.

The plan is that when the weather is good (probably not until mid week) we will sail to Horta where Duncan will have a look. Worst case, the boat would go home on a ship, but the expectation is that with summer weather now arriving, we will be able to continue the cruise as planned, sailing back home in July.

I have already been up the mast to fully check the rig and all is well.

All a bit worrying but having learned a bit more about how the boats are assembled, it seems very unlikely that there is a catastrophic hull failure about to happen and also I have great confidence that even if there is a problem it can be completely, 100% resolved with no residual weakness. Phew!

Meanwhile the skipper has a few residual symptoms as well, but nothing to worry about. On deck, sorting out the genoa furling line during the bad weather, I got bashed around a bit. There is rather a tender lower rib and lateral abdominal wall. The surveyor or nurse who flew in last night says keep taking the paracetamol.

Peter

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