Gremlins and frustrations

One could easily write a very, very long report on the events of a single day. The day felt particularly long too. The day of departure turned into a day of disaster at around 23.00 on Friday as, just about to cast off, we turned on the GPS only to realize that both our GPS devices and the VHF wouldn't power on or faded just as a blink of light could be seen to indicate some life. The departure had to be postponed. Indescribable frustration after weeks of careful preparation and particular attention to electrics. But that's all part and parcel of buying a second hand boat I've been told...The only useful thing to do before retiring to our bunks was to fuel up.

Contacts to find electricians started at 0700 in the morning and everybody was doing what they could to improve the situation. Some excellent breakfast was cooked to lift the mood and compass light and the navigation light for motoring were fixed. Chief Engineer also started work to expose the wiring behind the main instrument panel above the navigating table. Everybody agreed, as disappointed we were, that it was best we had this problem in home port rather than in the middle of the North Sea.

By 1230 we had an electrician at work. He could not find the reason for the problem but found a cure by drawing new power cables for the dysfunctional instruments. Meanwhile wind had got quite mild and after a departure with the sails up at around 1830, we soon found ourselves motoring up along the Antrim coast. Some delicious chilli was cooked and warm thoughts went towards all those people who had in various ways supported our voyage.

It is now 22.40 and we have good internet connection. Just checked windfinder and xcweather who were agreeable that we should probably push on into the night to recover some lost time. About 15 knots wind from the NE through the night and in the morning and the slightly less. Still slowed down by the tide a bit but about 4.9 kts ground speed nevertheless. And at 15 minutes past midnight the tide will start to turn into our favour. So we have decided to push on.

Some hot chocolate is being prepared, waypoints marked on the chart and blog written. Oh yes, and there is a helmsman steering as well. Location 54N 54 and 5W 48.9

The mood is good now. The men are at work.