11 Apr, 07 – 22.30
17.0740N,35.2916W
MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity Number) - 235026784
Call Sign for Miss Olive – MJGU9
The land team has been notified of the situation and they will be on standby in case of emergency.
The boat is being tracked by via the two on-board Argos satellite beacons. Emergency button on both as well as the EPIRB will be activated if in distress.
Steering cable valve
Mooring panel
Cabin. Surival Suit (0range) as pillow, Sleeping mat, (Black) Maps, Charts, Electronics. Water leak in compartments below sleeping area.
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I've spent the rest of the day trying to track down the source of this miserable leak and try and estimate the rate.
Observing the leak for the past 24 hrs, the water has increased to about 3 liters. There is a possibility that this may be equal to the height of the sea level outside and it may not increase beyond 3. (The total of 5 liters could have been caused by accumulated water from the leaking hull, breaking waves as well as condensation. Its hard to say at this point.
I added some liquid soap into the central watertight compartment with the leak to check if there was any water transfer between it and the other two. The water in the other two compartments stayed as normal, which indicates no water transfer between the two but either a leak upwards from the floorboards & hull or downwards from the fiberglass back of the cabin.
I been able to narrow down the source to 3 possible places on the fiberglass back. First, the valve where the cable for the foot steering goes thru to the outside (todays photo 1). Second, the joints of the fiberglass panel that holds the rudder in place. Third, the joints of the metal panel that re-enforces a mooring loop on the outside (todays photo 2).
I've sealed off the fiberglass and metal panels with sealant. The valve has been secured with tape and plastic bags. Fingers crossed for now. I hope its going to hold against water pressure from the outside. No idea as yet about the leak from the hull. I will have to examine the hull from the outside. Will also have to wait and see if the repairs hold up in rough weather.
The stench inside the cabin is awful. A combination of fish, paint filings, sawdust and rust.
The water, has a habit of getting between the neoprene mattress and the wooden floor (where I sleep), and then transforms it self into sludge in the afternoon heat. A pigs paradise.
In the tropics here, its started to rain almost every night around 10-11 at night.
My highlight of the day: taking a rainwater shower on deck to wash the sludge I've been rolling in all day. I feel a bit more human again after the shower and in slightly better spirits.
On the progress front, a much needed light at the end of the tunnel. I am back in the 20's after averaging 15 knots for the past 2 weeks. A sign that we have caught the North Equitorial current (0.5 knots), which will help us move westwards.
The sea has been a bit high all day. Thankfully, tomorrows forecast is for the wind to drop to 10 knots E, which will give me calmer seas, in which to dive under and examine the hull. Hope the repairs hold overnight.
B
WOULD APPRECIATE NO MESSAGES OR CALLS ON THE SATELLITE PHONE. THE LINE IS BEING KEPT OPEN FOR EMERGENCY USE. Instead, direct messages thru the messags section on the website at http://www.bhavik.com/crossatlantic/messages.asp. These are forwarded to me at the end of each day.
(EXCEPTIONS: Erden, Tatiana, Tiny, Hicks, Leven, Larsson, Kalisinski, Haglnd, Ambani)
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