Passage to Sarawak
Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Sat 7 Jul 2012 09:56
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After our relaxing time in the islands off
Terengganu, we decided to make passage for Miri in Sarawak--some 650 miles,
around a 5 day passage. I write this blog after covering 350 of these miles--a
tough passage so far, let's hope it gets better.
Before setting off we had a couple of technical
issues to deal with!! As well of course lots that can wait!! Our
alternator stopped charging while we were on Redang Island--not a catastrophe,
as I have a generator, but I wanted it fixed. After some investigation, it seems
we had an alternator fault, and also a faulty smart regulator. The alternator
was fixed--and I also bought a spare. But the regulator is microchip stuff--not
really mendable--so we fitted a cheap and very unsmart regulator to see us
through while we wait to replace the smart one.
We also had a leak coming from somewhere in the
salt water cooling system for the engine when it was running--small and
manageable, but annoying. Replacing the water pump impeller and o-ring
seemed to do the trick, but now mid-passage I find we again have a small
leak---the engine is so tightly fitted, it's impossible to find exactly where
the leak is coming from---we'll have another go in Miri--but for now, we're
sailing--who needs engines!!
And the passage itself has been pretty tough--winds
up and down, everything from 40 knots to nothing--and some remarkable changes in
direction. Heavy rain squalls with thunderstorms--we're using the radar to
try to dodge the electrical storm cells--but it makes for less sleep than ideal
and with a nasty choppy sea things like cooking are difficult.
But hey-ho---rough with the smooth--in a couple of
days we'll be in Miri, exploring Sarawak---and maybe tomorrow the sun will
shine!
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