Tuesday 3^rd August – Messolonghi

38:21.668N 21:25.004E

Today a package arrived from the UK which meant that Richard had to go to the post office to sign for it; here, these things take time so any other plans for the morning were put on hold.

This afternoon Richard has caught up on a few maintenance jobs on Pyxis whilst I supervised the end of my book.

He started with a couple of jobs on the alternator and charging system.  First he added a switch so we can change easily between using the external smart regulator and the built-in internal regulator in case we have a problem with the external regulator again. 

Second, he has moved the voltage sensor on the external regulator to hopefully improve the battery charging when we are motoring – we had noticed that when the regulator moves to its next charging stage, the voltage drop causes the link to the domestic batteries to drop out and the charging to them reduces to practically nothing, despite them still needing charge.  Unfortunately to get to the wire in question required removing the alternator but fortunately everything still seems to be working now it is back together.  The change seems to have improved things but it is difficult to tell as the batteries are fully charged as we are sitting on shore power, we will see better next time we go out to anchor.

Afterwards, he fixed the top step of the companionway which was coming loose.  I held it in place whilst he re-fixed the screws.