April 20th 2007, Ecuador
Success is all a matter of perspective. And for us, a successful day is when only one thing breaks and we can repair it and move onward.
Four days later, the Captain has successfully managed the repair the anchor windlass, reinstalled it, rebuilt the switching mechanism, and replaced the starter battery. To us the anchor windlass is safety gear. We feel that it enables us to anchor and more importantly re-anchor, at a moment's notice, without the worry of personal fatigue or hesitation of judgment. Many others use the manual methods of tug and pull or cranking on a leverage system to haul up their anchor, but neither of these are quick and both require physical strengthen and more importantly, judgment that is not hampered by poor weather, fatigue or a less than perfect circumstance. Too often, we have found ourselves in an anchorage when a boat comes in and decided to anchor on top of our anchor or too close to us for our comfort. Even now, last night, a boat may have anchored on top or our anchor. Should we move? We were here first-they should move. We are bigger and heavier than they are and we could survive a "bang" in the night. However, do we really want to spoil our new paint job with an unexpected "tap in the night"? We will see. The good news is that this system is working and ready to perform.
BUT…we can't go…"WHAT"??? Yes, another delay was found.
The watermaker (our mini-desalination plant) stopped performing. It continues to leak like a sieve in places where it is not suppose to leak. The SPECTRA system was pickled while we were on the hard and traveling in Peru, during a period of about 9 months of non-use. Essentially the Captain found many components had disintegrated, including valves and 'O' rings, but also seams in the pumps were leaking-spots that were not even exposed to the operator. So, is this a manufacturer defect or was there something wrong with the pickling chemical (specified by the manufacturer)? While in Costa Rica, we rebuilt the system (membrane, pump) per manufacture specification with parts brought down for us by a cruiser friend's friend. Captain has called the Manufacturer and spoken to a representative who is as baffled as we. What do we do? Obviously, we can't go without water.
Alas, there are cruisers who cruise without watermakers. We just renovated our 350 gallon holding tank, so it is ready to receive water. Our VISAs have expired. Our thirty day permit for the Galapagos has started. And most importantly, everyone is anxious to leave and get to the Galapagos Islands. Deckside at 1900, the crew left the Captain and First Mate with wine and cheese, alone, to discuss options.
We have decided to do what others cruisers do, who travel without a watermaker; some of our best friends travel without watermakers. (But, then they also are limited to washing only one side of a plate at a time and not stacking their plates after a meal. Consider doing that at home!!!)
Today, we will fill up our tanks with the local water, treat it with Microdyn, and carry 350 gallons of local water. We will conserve our water uses, use moist toilettes for bathing, and drink lots of juice and milk while underway. The conservation of 350 gallons for 5 people for 5 days will not be difficult. It will be the 30 day passage that might test our conservation skills. (Note: A cruising friend in Santa Cruz, California was alarmed when their water bill showed a monthly usage of 45,000 gallons of water. Yikes! They own a lawn which sucked the water out of the nearby aqueduct. With this in mind, we can live comfortably for 5 days on 350 gallons.)
This morning the Captain will call the folks at SPECTRA to again discuss our situation. If necessary, parts will be ordered and sent to the Galapagos Islands-Santa Cruz Island or Isla Isabella.
Anya reminds us that it was a week ago when we went to the Port Captain to initiate the 'check-out' procedures and we were delayed by THAT process, too. However, that is yet ANOTHER story. How time flies!
So, it is Friday. Do we leave when the afternoon winds shift? Sailor tradition is that you never leave on a Friday. However, another sailor tradition is to never permit females aboard. "Ah Matey, that's the way of the Pirates." Since we can't adhere to one tradition, will we adhere to the other?