20/11/11 – The Off (or Not) – 28:24.0N 015:25.6W

By Saturday, everything was looking good, all systems checked and working, the boat stuffed to the gunnels with provisions, books and films galore, and we began to feel pleased with ourselves again. Big mistake!

The formal start for our class of boats was set for 1300 (after the fast boats left so that we did not get in their way!), and we had said our goodbyes to the shore crew at about 1100 when Ali noticed that the wind instrument was blank. There followed 2 hours of complete mayhem with the masthead wiring and all connections to the wind instrument control being examined. This is a much more complicated job than it sounds, since it means someone up the mast, head lining removed, electrical connections exposed and taken apart, and tools all over the place. Miraculously, we seemed to have corrected the fault by 1300 and sent a radio message that we were on our way to the start line, which we crossed in something of a muddle at 1315 after everyone else had gone. Putting everything back together again whilst raising the sails and sorting out a course was a challenge, but everyone was up for it and even managed to wave to the shore crew in passing, sheets and shackles held between teeth.

There followed a fine hour or so of downwind sailing, and we were even catching those at the tail end when Ali told us that the wind instrument had stopped working again. Deflation prevailed until another bout of wiring wiggling and re-making connections did the job again. Sadly this fix lasted only 15 minutes, and the next one less than 5. We had acquired a handheld wind instrument, but though we had all sailed without accurate wind information in the past, it seemed unwise to embark on a 3000 nm passage with a malfunction that we did not understand and might affect other instruments (when the committee boat transmitted on radio, it caused pulses on the displays) . With heavy hearts, we waved farewell to the fleet and turned back to Las Palmas after 2 hours of fast downwind sailing, and had to slog back under engine for 4-5 hours battering into the swell.

It was dark when we docked, and nothing could be done till the morning, so families were re-united, excellent meals eaten and a good night’s sleep taken. Not what we had planned, but better than worrying for 3-4 weeks. On Monday morning, investigations found that there was a friction burn in the wind instrument cable at the top of the mast, which had exposed wires and caused a short. Alan Williams (known as Bob for the passage, to avoid confusion with the other Alan and Ali.... 3 people responding to Al was at least 1 too many!) effected a repair at the mast head, and all systems worked again. A fine lunch with Christine before we departed and another passing of the start line without the fanfare. Christine did haloo and wave for us though.....

Alan