Day 21 - Passage to the Caribbean
Misterx
Tue 22 Apr 2025 00:49
21/04/25
8:30 pm
Day 21
North Atlantic Ocean
DTD to Trinidad: 1,627 NM (169NM)
So the sikaflex didn't dry off. which is not so surprising given the humid conditions... after 24 h it was still a gooey mess not sealing anything. Water is still sloshing off at the bottom of the bilge. So we took it all off and got the proper gear, underwater sealant, all over the seacocks. That definitely worked and while there might have been a leak there, it would seem that it is not the only place as we are still taking in water. We can watch rivulets coming from underneath the fuel tank.The amount is fairly consistent, about 2 litres every 4 hours, hopefully the amount will stay at this level. We can cope with emptying the bilge of 2 litres every 4 hours. We have a few idea of where the water is coming from but no certainty, it could be the rudder shaft or a seal in the rudder shaft, so I have been reliably informed by people in the know! We will need to investigate further tomorrow. Although any investigation will need emptying of the back locker, full jammed with ropes, jerry cans, and other stuff, and in 15/20 knots of wind and 2m waves, this will be entertaining! We might have to wait for better sea condition for investigation.
Discretion being the best part of valour, we have now altered our course to our new destination. We will now stop in Trinidad, the nearest place where they have the facilities to haul out, diagnose and sort this kind of problem. Hoping to be at Peakes, as we hauled out twice there, in 2017 and 2018, hopefully they will have the room for an emergency haul out. This is the nearest place , but at 1,627nm from us, it does feel a long way away. And hopefully, it will all be resolved in the shortest time and we will be able to carry on back on our journey home. Silver lining, the wind is now on our back so we have a much more confortable ride!
Wish we only had the Sargasso weed issue to contend with... and fishing boats... plenty of them around to avoid today!
M