TRUE GRIT

Bandit
David Morgan and Brenda Webb
Wed 7 Dec 2011 13:03

23:00:67N 18:50:23W

As most of you reading this blog know Brenda is a journalist so she tends to do the writing while I do the other stuff, the man’s stuff, the “True Grit” This translates into keeping Bandit and her systems working! Well for most of the time. It is a challenge knowing what you need on a boat in the way of systems, navigation systems, communications systems, sails, tools and spares. For me  the most challenging to run are the power systems, the generation and capacity required to keep all the other stuff alive and glowing, this at times has to include a washing machine and hairdryer!  

We have diesel to generate by way of the main engine’s alternator and a genset which delivers power of the plug in variety, 240 volt, just like at home. It produces 3.5 kilowatts which is enough to run a 3 bar heater to give you an idea, and also keeps the batteries topped up for the 12 volt systems which runs all the rest, from nav lights to music and from the water maker to the GPS.

 However we don’t like to use diesel  and have a small wind powered generator and now a small towed generator, these two together seem to  almost run the boat but if the wind is light or we are slow I am afraid it is back to diesel burning. Oh to have a clean sheet of paper to sort it all out from the start, we would definitely include a large solar panel system but that requires a lot of design and expensive stainless steel to mount it all, one day maybe. Definitely a steep and overhanging learning curve is the power issue! This morning for instance the tow generator seemed to be turning a bit slow and on investigation I found a large chunk of fishing net in it!

On the progress front we are making really good speed with runs of 170 nautical miles plus, noon to noon, mostly with the wind aft of the beam when we fly the genoa poled out to port and the main, at times with 2 or 3 reefs tucked into it, to starboard. If the wind comes too far forward we gybe the genoa over and sheet it in through a turning block on the end of the boom giving it a bit more room to breathe . We have had winds of more than 30 knots but generally 20 to 25 boat our speed is still averaging a little more than 7 kts with one big surf at 11.8!

Today is fishing day and we have the lure out in the hope of snaring a mahi mahi for dinner. The other Kiwis on the passage seem to be having a lot of success. All is well on board.