Days 103 & 104 24:13.1S 159:49.2E

Five Islands
John & Sue
Tue 4 Sep 2012 02:21
At 4pm on Sunday afternoon the starboard engine stopped suddenly. The wind had started to increase but was still on the nose and the seas were starting to build up, so it was a bit too rough to go down into the engine compartment to check it out. As it got dark the seas became rougher and for the first time on this trip we didn't cook dinner, just quick snacks and hang on tight. After a bumpy night running the port engine, conditions started to improve by Monday morning, and by midday we raised the mainsail and were able to shut down the engine for the first time since leaving Noumea. We spent a couple of hours trying to sort out the starboard engine issue and eventually (thanks to a suggestion by Miss Kitty) got it going again. Problem was linked to a change we made to the fuel line in Galapagos which had both the generator and engine running off the same feed line. We sailed through the night with a reefed main and genoa, and since 9am this morning (Tuesday) we have full sail up and are currently flying along at 8 knots. The clouds have cleared and we have a beautiful sunny day, so I hope these conditions last for a few days. If they do we may still make it in to Brisbane on Friday but Saturday is also looking a possibility if they don't. We found a squid and a couple of flying fish on the deck this morning, the first for many weeks. We have had all four fishing lines out since we left Noumea but no luck as yet. One unusual event this morning was when Sue noticed a lot of small objects floating around the boat. Kitty managed to catch one in a bucket, and after much scientific debate by all, we have decided that we sailed through a flotilla of juvenile blue bottles. We have a photo so will have to check it out when we reach google land. As at Midday Tuesday we are 380nm from Noumea and 407nm from the mouth of the Brisbane River, nearly half way. We will have to average 5.7 knots to arrive by midday Friday. Nigel is preparing our last leg of lamb for dinner tonight, looking forward to that.

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