Skipper’s Experience was put to the test yesterday when the engine stopped in very light winds and in a potentially strong current just north of the notorious Gulf of Corryvreckan with lethal tides and a whirlpool. I did panic, according to Jeanette, and in my hurry to get the diesel into the engine system which needed bleeding I undid the filter instead of the bleed screw and had to bypass the water filter to get the engine to start. The engine still didn’t go so we sailed in very light winds going nowhere. Eventually I bled the fuel system and we went at 2.5 knots to conserve the emergency fuel we had of 10 litres. I thought we would have 4 hours maximum if we went slow but it was painful and very very nervous waiting for the land to pass by and get into shallow water to anchor. Got to an anchorage by 10pm and very relieved indeed. But still needed to get fuel the next day. No petrol station on the sea you see!!!
Got fuel the next day but had to sail 5 miles, we used sail for 3 and had a favourable tide but had to motor into a marina with posh boats, if the engine stopped we would skewer a fibreglass boat with our bowsprit and cost a few pounds on the insurance. Very relieved to fill the tank and learnt a very important lesson.
KEEP A DETAILED LOG OF THE HOURS MOTORED.
KEEP THE EMERGENCY FUEL CAN TOPPED UP- DID THAT
DIN’T UNSCREW THE FILTER, JUST THE BLEED SCREW.
CHECK THE TANK EVERY OTHER DAY
DON’T LET THE TANK RUN DRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, lessons learnt are better than not doing anything risky.
No comments:
Post a Comment