Into the Banda Sea
Fleck
Tue 27 Jul 2010 03:05
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Tuesday, July 28th, midday Darwin
time.
Position; 07:03.9S 130:25.1E
We are well, and making good progress towards the
diminutive Banda Islands, which would have been all too easy to miss in the days
of yore. Our usual frustration is that we may not get there before nightfall
tomorrow, and I would hate to try to go into the anchorage in darkness. Today is
a lovely sailing day with force 4 winds just behind the beam. For the last two
days however we have had strong winds from ESE, really lumpy seas that had us
both reaching for the stugeron, and off our food. Several minor setbacks to
contend with, as well. We left the main cabin hatch just a little open to allow
a little fresh air down below, but a green one came over the decks at about
midnight, and sea (salt) water cascaded into the sleeping area, all over our
freshly laundered sleeping bags, etc. Hannah speechless as I leapt around,
a naked zombie, with kitcken roll and towels. Come morning we discovered a new
set of chainplate leaks on the starboard cabin side, that had allowed still more
seawater into the bunk cushions. As previously I have stripped the headlining,
and fixed a sort of collecting system for water that leaks around four big deck
bolts. The problem is insoluble, as far as I can see, without quite major
modifications, and having a dry cabin makes such a difference to our
quality of life. Now that the weather has improved the decks are no longer
awash, so we are OK for now, but getting back to the UK, by whichever route,
will involve some windward work, and wet decks.
We don't have a thermometer on board, but it gets
very hot in here, and the cockpit is untenable with spray and sunshine, as the
bimini has been taken down as it threatens to break up in the wind, Even
our red ensign is now in tatters. Yesterday we felt so illl that just surviving
was deemed a sucess, today we are much brighter, but Hannah in particular would
like to get in as soon as possible now, and is frustrated that unlike a
car this boat cannot simply change gear, or, heaven forbid, ignore the
speed limits. Her frustration has been heightened by the breakdown of our
electricity inverter, a precious item of gear for this computer until recently,
but I now have a back up power source, hence am able to write this.
Unfortunately I am no longer able to charge my camera, and several other items,
to say nothing of Madam's DS and Ipod.
Good news is that Indonesia uses 220 volts and
European style plugs, it is just possible we can get an inverter in Ambon, in a
week's time, otherwise Dear Conny could bring out a small one to
Bali.
Other good news is that our Chart Plotter is
working a bit, and although I havn't yet checked all its bells and
whistles, it hasn't blown up like the other one. Moreover the engine's water
pump is good too!
So we are now in the Banda Sea, and hopefully we
shall soon put our Timor sea experiences to the backs of our minds.
The faster boats will be in Banda already, so I hope that they and the Customs
Officials will wait for us, and give us a couple of days on the Islands before
we move on to Ambon. After Ambon we split from the fleet and sail direct to
Bali: quite a long trip, but the wind, if we get some, should be from
astern
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