We had been nervous and apprehensive about the trip since we decided to go in January and hadn’t said much about our decision to friends and relatives as well as other cruisers as we have seen and heard of many other cruisers that changed their plans, for one reason or another, after telling everyone that they were going to do something like this. We didn’t inform our families of our plans until we were well into getting ready to go. Several times during the three months of “getting ready” we changed our minds as things broke and were difficult to fix. Some of the major things we found out about when we hauled the boat in Salinas, Ecuador was blisters on the bottom which after much discussion with professionals decided to go with it “as is”. The next major hurtle was the propeller problem. When we hauled the boat, we found severe corrosion on the propeller. After weeks of trying to find someone going to the states to take it back for us so that it could be sent off the be repaired, we bit the bullet and paid to have it sent DHL to PYI in Seattle, WA. We were lucky to find
someone coming down to visit other cruisers that were willing to bring it back for us.Hundreds of projects were on our “To Do” list and gradually that list was brought down to minor things that could be done underway or at anchor in the Galapagos. After two months “on the hard” in the boatyard we were able to launch HAWKEYE, provision, and headed to the Galapagos.
We had a good breeze leaving Salinas, Ecuador and sailed well until the second night out on the 600-mile plus trip. John was on watch and had two fishing boats come within ¼ mile of HAWKEYE in light winds. He turned on the engine so we could motor away from them and that is when we heard the clunking noise for the first time. He turned the motor off after we had gotten a safe distance from the fishing boats and we the next day, when it was calm, he went over to check out the propeller and shaft to see if he could see anything wrong. There was a plastic bag wrapped around the propeller, which he was able to unwind and take off. We thought our problem was solved; but the next time we started the engine and put a load on it, we had the same clunking noise. Lucky for us we were able to sail the whole way to Isla Cristabol, Galapagos and were able to motor slowly to get into the bay and anchor without the clunking noise. John checked the propeller and shaft and all zincs upon anchoring; everything looked good. He next checked over the engine, shaft, and everything inside the boat. He finally found a broken motor mount that we were able to get fixed and John reinstalled. We then took HAWKEYE out for a spin and still had the clunking at high rpm under load. After having another cruiser that was a mechanic in his “former life” and the mechanic from the Port Captain’s office look at it, the consensus was to go with it and have the propeller rebalanced at first opportunity. John had also been in touch with the PYI via e-mail on the problem.
The decision was made to sail to Isla Isabela, Galapagos where we did some sightseeing, worked on chafing gear and got ready for the “puddle jump”. April 14, 2006 at 9 a.m. local time, we left Isla Isabela, Galapagos, Ecuador heading for the South Pacific with a tentative destination of the Gambiers, Tuomotos, French Polynesia.
We had a nice breeze and a good weather prediction when we left and that breeze held up until the middle of the night when the wind quit and we decided to motor for a few hours as the batteries needed to be charged anyway. After a couple of hours motoring, the motor reduced speed and stopped. John changed the fuel filter and we motored for a few hours more and it happened again. John looked at the new fuel filter and it was o.k. At that time it was early morning and a breeze had come up so we sailed. After checking with a mechanic friend, Rick, on SHE WOLF via the SSB net, we put reverse pressure with a tire inflator on the hose from the fuel tank to the filter. Rick said that biobore, a chemical we put into the diesel fuel to kill algie, kills the algie, but then sticks together and makes clumps which may have caused the clog. We were able to sail after this exercise.
Night two, two days after the full moon, there was an incredible moonrise and the moonlight on the water was beautiful. We sailed well all night under clear skies and perfect conditions.
Day three and we are still sailing. Our 9 a.m. 24 hour run was 133 miles. When John listened to the net, he heard that SAFIRE had lost a lower shroud yesterday and another one today. They are still about 600 miles from the Marquesas and not enough fuel to motor the rest of the way. Those closest to them have offered to divert to their location and give them fuel. This may take several days as there are no boats close by them. Theresa and Kevin are experienced sailors
having sailed from England and around Cape Horn. Ran the engine from 7:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. to charge the batteries. Some squalls around but have managed to miss them so far. Had a few sprinkles this afternoon but no winds with it. Getting into the grove but John still not getting enough sleep. We both had trouble sleeping today as the seas were lumpy and the sails would slat. Sailed wing and wing most of the day. Did a jibe mid afternoon and put in one reef just before nightfall.Day 4 we moved right along doing 130 miles in 24 hours. Winds manageable in the 15 knot range with some squalls at night but no high winds.
Day 5 was mostly wind in the 20-25 knot range with confused seas of about 6-8 feet. We triple reefed the main and jib and were still flying along. Not a comfortable day at sea. Had trouble with the engine quitting after motoring for 45 minutes. John bled the lines and managed to get it going again but quit again. This was our fastest day so far at 163 uncomfortable miles.
This proved to be an ongoing problem with John trying different things and managing to keep it going enough to charge our batteries. It does not give us confidence in going through reefs, however. Day 6 at 9 a.m. we had gone another 147 miles in the previous 24 hours in uncomfortable seas. Day 7 at 9 a.m. we had gone 149 miles. The windvane lines show signs of chafe and we end for ended some of the lines. Also, made leather covers for the blocks to make it quieter. There are lots of moans, groans, clinks and clanks going on all the time. Still under triple reefed main and jib. Seas down a little this day and not as uncomfortable as the day before. Got the towing generator in the water successfully and will see how it does getting more amps in.
The towing generator turned out to bring in enough amps to keep us from having to run the engine on a daily basis to charge the batteries. We now run the engine every third day for about one hour. It sure made a big difference.
Our engine problem persisted and John would do a number of tests and finally surmised that there is sludge in the fuel tank that clogs the intake to the engine, thus the engine is starved of fuel and quits. After talking to a number of people via radio and e-mail, he devised another fuel tank to feed the engine. Using a jerry jug of fuel, he installed lines to the engine bypassing the main fuel tank. This took several hours working under very rolly conditions but he succeeded and we once again had a reliable engine.
He debated back and forth about going to the Gambiers. If we needed some work done, it could not be done in the Gambiers. Finally the decision was made when we got word that 2 cyclones were heading to the Gambiers. We then deviated to the Marquesas. One boat got to the Gambiers just before the cyclone hit and another, Valella, backtracked to a safe distance until it went by. Another boat, Stinella, headed for the Marquesas also. Each day the seas settled down more and it was easier to be on the boat. Still a lot of movement where you can’t set anything down on a counter top and expect it to be there for over a second. The best place I found to work was on the floor. I made Calabasas soup and bread while sitting on the floor as well as preparing chicken enchaladas. Washing dishes is hard as you have to use a foot pump, which then only gives you one foot for trying to balance yourself. I find myself hopping around a lot. Cooking is a challenge and I am glad I had prepared a lot of things ahead of time.
We have had some beautiful weather with sunny skies and very little squalls. None of the squalls so far have packed a lot of wind. We are thankful for that and that there has been very little rain. If we do have some rain, it is usually at night. Other boats have had squalls at night accompanied with wind. Our daily runs average in the 140 mile area and we are most frequently reefed down at least 2 reefs in the main.
John does a check for chafe on a daily basis and there has been chafe on the jib, and screws loosen on the vang. He has had to repair the towing generator and the windvane lines. The jib tends to rub on the turnbuckles of the lifeline at the bow and has caused holes in the bottom of the sail. We sewed a piece of leather on the bottom of the sail and now it chafes above the leather.
We are now in a
Lots of good wishes from people sending e-mails. Have had numerous problems sending update through email and John has had difficulty in connecting.
FIGMENT had 3 broken shrouds and has jerry rigged and going slow. TRUNDLE lost his prop and is sailing but needs help getting into anchor. One boat has engine problems.
In the early morning of May 4, we passed a boat, Morning Light. On May 5, we passed ALK and Wind Castle. More moonlight at night now, until 3 a.m. No more squalls and beautiful skies. Had less wind night of May 5 but managed to keep going. Passed another boat on morning of May 6.
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