I became vaguely aware of the strengthening southerly around 8'ish and sallied forth to partake of a light repast as befitting my station as Captain of All I Survey...
In mitigation of my later rising, I might add that I'd spent 'till late last night composing and editing my submission to Lloyds of London in order to have a crack at clawing back from insurance some of the cost of recent and unanticipated engine repairs... we shall see how they respond.
Beautiful day here in the winterless north, cloudless skies and a bracing southerly breeze gently howling through the rigging... aah love the slower pace and unpopulated perspective granted to those bold enough to embark on a 'Winter Retreat!'
So, off to rouse Victor Vitus from his slumber, a quick burst of air into his robust knobbly wheels and we were off. It turns out that John Keys (PM) has come good and gifted several mill into the completion of the combined cycle/rail trail. Last time I was here it looked like the railwaymen were going to win the battle and run the train only into Opua. However people power has been proven efficacious - the cycle trail has been so popular that they are going to fund both alongside one another. An excellent solution.
Meanwhile Victor was quietly winging his inimitable way along the new and improved compacted gravel trail...
I paused to give Victor a rest beside the estuary, which is still navigable for some miles right up to Kawakawa. In fact there was a large wharf and loading dock not far from where the train currently stops, about 7kms from Opua.
It's a great track and there are plans underway to connect it all the way to the West coast 90km away...Back to Di's for a large flat white and then on to Kalai as my plans were to head off after lunch with the ebbing tide and a brisk southerly up my date...
A bit of steam along with water flow from exhaust gave me pause and sure enough ten minutes out the estuary the engine overheating alarm sounded as I raised the revs... Grrrrrrrrr....
I was NOT HAPPY!
Turned off the motor, checked filter and looked OK. So, with just head sail deployed tacked back and forth with little gain for half an hour into the southerly and outgoing tide. Re-started the engine and gingerly motored upstream at 2.7 kts. Still steam coming out exhaust along with a reduced water flow. Lo and behold who should appear but Barry The Mechanic who had done most of the engine work right off my stern in the JB Marine work boat and reckoned something 'wasn't right' - no kidding!
Managed to dock on my own with both wind and tide threatening to push me over into the berth opposite - at least reverse was still working well! Shut down and waited for Barry with a strong cup of calming tea.
The ever-laconic Barry rocks up and we set about diagnosing the latest episode with the ever recalcitrant diesel.
Barry reckoned the internals were fine - had to be, he said! Immediately he saw that there was reduced flow into the filter. We bravely undid the hose on the intake valve (thus opening up a decent size hole in the bottom of the hull... hardly a trickle emerged from the 19mm water intake. Really???
A long rat tail file eventually did the trick dislodging the little sea-creatures who had burrowed their way into the opening. Turns out its an endemic problem in the oyster rich environment of the marina. Oyster spelt has been wreaking havoc across the fleet!
Engine re-start produced a little diesel smoke (injectors not quite in sync) but no steam!
Hallelujah! I might get to go sailing this week after all, after having visions of another week in dock with more engine repairs...
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