Yesterday we lost pressure to our fresh water lines. We checked the head and galley faucets nothing was leaking. We switched water tanks thinking maybe one of the water tanks had a vacuum, but still the pressure was lost. We would flip on and off the breaker to the water pump, and fresh water would start to pour slowly and then progress to just a drip. This morning Wade added fuel to the boat because sadly this time of the year the wind is either almost non-existent or really big, we are motor sailing in light 10 to 15 knot downwind. To get to the fuel tanks and baja filter he opened the starboard side lazarette, and there it was spraying in all of it’s glory. The outside hose for the swim step stainless steel mesh hose had kinked enough causing the rubber interior to crack and spray fresh water into the bilge. Wade removed the fitting and installed a cap on the feed line and pressure returned to the fresh water system.
The one major up side to motoring is our motor is connected to our hot water heater, so while the engine is running we have the hottest water for showering. Our little leak, haha, cost us one a half water tanks but we still had over one full tank left. We decided if two of the three of us could take showers underway without having to switch to our final water tank we would hold off going directly to Sand Point and stop in Zachary Bay on Unga Island for the night.
The scenic route through the Shumagin Islands was a bit grey today and we were reminded that we are not in the tropics. Last night had a chill about it and this morning we only had sun for a couple of hours. It looks as though the grey whales from Dutch Harbor have made their way over to the Shumagin Islands because just as we passed King Cove there were dozens of breaching whales.
Last night, our watch schedule was made a little easier. Marj was so helpful to stand watch from 1:30 am to 4:30 am, so Wade could go to bed a little earlier and Sara could get up a little later. She’s a wonderful woman for taking on the challenge as we don’t hear many people volunteering for that watch.
Cheers,
Wade and Sara
Underway at noon 53° 00.783’N, 162° 06.946W
Zachary Bay anchorage 55° 21.567’N, 160° 37.118W
VHF Weather Signal, Good SSB Signal for Weather Radiofax, Returned to using repaired Iridium Go
To find where Wade, Sara, and SV Just Drifting, type or copy/paste these coordinates 55.35945,-160.61863333 into Google Maps!
