This morning at 0200 during a watch change a crew member noticed liquid across the floor (sole) of the master cabin. Are we taking on water again? All hands!
Where was it coming from? Had we hit something earlier in the night that cracked the hull or damaged a through hull fitting?
We saw a few drops LANDING on the area. That meant the water was coming from above and not below. Great, no hull breach! Looked up and realized that that was the area in the deck that we had a fitting ripped out previously. It had been repaired but had the same thing happened again?
Quick. Taste it! That way we would know if it is salt water from outside the boat getting in or fresh water within the boat perhaps from a ruptured hose from the fresh water tank. I ran a finger through it and tasted it, hmm, not salty, not fresh, kind of sudsy. Cleaning fluid? Another taste. What the heck is that? Familiar taste, but what the heck was it? … seriously??? It was beer!
A crew member had opened a drawer and the hinge had pinched the side of a can that was stored there and it slowly drip, drip, dripped onto the floor.
What a relief, especially after the leak we had just the previous day.
Another rolly day but we are now a third of the way there. Roughly 10 more days and we will be in Grenada.
An update on the rest of the fleet…
“Yacht ALIKA – ongoing
21 Nov 0830 UTC. Yacht ALIKA had a temporary loss of steering, the yacht moved abruptly, and 2 crew members were injured. 1 crew member was concussed, and 1 crew member sustained a compound ankle fracture. Remote medical assistance is being provided by satcomms. The ARC+ vessel ONE PIECE remained on standby during yesterday and the 75m motor vessel PLANET 9, coordinated by MRCCs, is now on standby, following ALIKA. The crews are looking to transfer the casualties to the motor yacht if and when the sea state improves. In the meantime, they are heading on a NW course to find calmer winds and seas so that a casualty transfer may be possible. MRCCs are coordinating. No further assistance from ARC+ yachts are required at this time. Next of kin have been informed.
Yacht HELGA
20 Nov 1230UTC HELGA reported damage to their rudder housing and the ingress of water and issued a PAN PAN. The situation is now stable and the crew are continuing to Grenada. They have added addition support to the rudder housing area and the ingress of water is manageable. They are being shadowed and are in regular contact with ARC+ yacht INFINITY.
Yacht ONE PIECE
23 Nov 0330 UTC Catamaran ONE PIECE lost their starboard rudder and issued a PAN PAN over VHF. They were temporarily unable to steer the boat with port rudder alone. ARC+ yacht MOON & STARS stood by as the ONE PIECE crew managed the situation. At 0440, the crew of ONE PIECE had the situation under control and cancelled their PAN PAN. They are now continuing sailing to Grenada.
Yacht MANUIA
20 Nov 0030. The crew of MANUIA lost the use of their autopilot. They have been following instructions from the manufactured for repairs but remain hand steering at present. Otherwise, all is well on board.
A number of other yachts have reported equipment failures and issues on board but these have all been managed or are being managed by the crew, with no assistance required from the fleet. Rally Control stands by to provide any assistance as required and thanks those involved in incidents and the whole fleet for being alert to others.”
… we are playing it safe and not pushing hard even if it takes us an extra day.
