Electrics and electronics

When I left Plymouth I used my electronic Tiller Pilot to steer the boat in the harbour while I got set up.  It only lasted a few minutes before it went mad, firstly pulling the tiller bacwards and forwards and then going onto full lock and staying there, sending the boat in circles. I turned the steering off but left it switched on so that I could at least use it to hold the tiller in one place.

When I got into the Channel my chart plotter screen (major navigation device) went blank white and there was a loud buzzing coming from the Tiller Pilot. I swiched off the power to the pilot which stopped the buzzing but had no effect on the plotter.  Only 5 miles from the start would I have to retire? Knowing all these things are interconnected I disconnected the tiller piot completely (pulled the wires out of the wall!!) and the plotter started to receive information again; all ok one hopes. Later that night when I was completing the ships log I looked  for the mileage run.  According to the Plotter we had done 61,917 miles since leaving Plymouth - (Ella Trout - Space Ship??) very worrying!

Then on Wednesday night the Plotter started flicking on and off and by 2am it had a black screen. I debated most of the night, press on or go back? I could navigate the Atlantic ok but it was approaching the USA coast maybe in fog, at night or in rough weather. what to do?  Eventually I set the clockwork alarm and had to lie down, needless to say I never heard the alarm and slept on.  The plotter has a smoke alarm souder which will wake the dead -another thing to consider.The problem was still with me the following sunny morning and by chance the sun shone directly onto the plotter screen and I could see it was working but not illuminated. could I get there shining a torch on the screen, not very practical? After breakfast the wind instrument stopped working - what was going on?  It can't be the batteries there's been loads of wind driving the generator.

Checked batteries - no voltage!! - started engine - everything back to normal - big BIG relief - wind generator now suspect.

Mind you the plotter is still showing over 67000 miles travelled

Just a little insight into what went through my mind - the mental trials of a single handed sailor.

Poppa, Dad, Roger