Yesterday, 3/6, we'd planned an E-Z 10-mi. sail from Isla Linton to Green Turtle Bay. Weather was fine, NE winds12 kt., NE swell 4'-6'. Sadly, Green Turtle Bay = untenable due to NE swell so we sailed the extra 35 mi. to Porvenir in the San Blas islands. About 8 mi. out, rain squall reversed our winds then stopped it completely. Tried starting engine but no water cycled thru. Unwise to sail thru the reef passage to Porvenir w/o engine & no visibility due to rain. Reversed our course back to nearest anchorage with a safe approach in zero visibility: Portobello, 52 mi.
3.5 hrs.later, GB successfully replaced our engine's impeller, which had disintegrated & caused the failed start. Continued to Portobello, arrived in total darkness @ 10:30pm, anchored w/o incident amongst other sailboats.
3/7, Monday (today): GB successfully found what might be all the broken bits from disintegrated impeller – in front of inlet to oil cooler. Engine starts, runs normal. Will stay in Portobello thru at least Tuesday a.m., 3/8.
Sailing is like that sometimes.
m
Leave a Reply