The first week was tiring, particularly after our intensive preparations in Pasito Blanco, but things are going well. We have not sorted out our provisioning plan yet, and there are a million jobs to see to, but all in all we are on track.

Monday, Ray calls in and we go to a sextant set-up masterclass, run by a fellow Stokey, called "Stokey Woodall". Tony returns to Niord, and receives notification that the sat comms have been turned back on ready for our voyage. He glances into the bilges for a quick check, and his heart sinks. They are full of water. A quick check reveals that it is fresh water, not salt. Another check and our water tank is empty! Niord has delivered us another curved ball!! We are both in shock. We start hunting for the problem. We fill the tank a quarter full, seems OK. Then half, then three quarters, then full. Things are not OK, as the bilge starts filling with water again. Tony checks the hot water tank, the accumulator, the pipework. All OK. After much searching, the leak is discovered forward of the mast at the base of the tank on the port side. It is completely inaccessible, and a steady stream is pouring out. We are disconsolate, and discuss the options. A visit to the ARC office sees us discussing what steps we have to take if we need to withdraw. Next, we arrange an appointment at the local yard, Rolnautic, and discuss the options. Yes, they can fit us a nice new stainless steel tank after ripping up the cabin sole, but no, unsurprisingly, not in time to see us start the ARC. We decide to go on, and in the midst of the chaos find the time to do our first shop at Hiperdino. We think of a solution to our problems. In the evening we need a drink, and go to Pier19 for a meal with Peter and Colleen from Homecoming.

Tuesday sees Tony in the Rolnautic chandlery buying the bits to install a 150L flexible tank beneath the cabin sole in the void forward of the mast. He spends the day plumbing it in. Tony squeezes in an emergency comms seminar. Ray says goodbye to Ali and joins us in the afternoon. Ruben, the Honda engineer arrives to take our outboard for checks. Carlos installs our new i60 wind instrument. In the middle of this chaos the Hiperdino delivery arrives, and is left in the cockpit overnight!