2024 Australia - Preparations
I was invited to assist in sailing a newly aquired catamaran from the
Philippines to Australia. BUT.. The trip to Cebu in the Philippines was
to say the very least a total disaster. The Lagoon catamaran was
misrepresented in all sales and survey documentation. After 28
days the owner and I returned to Australia having not sailed a single
mile. The owner paid some cowboys to motor it to Australia where
it has spend a few months fixing the many things necessary for it to go
to sea safely.
That trip interrupted the scheduled cruise to Jervis Bay every January
so when the NSW school holidays arrived (Mid Term) I prepared to leave
Bermagui and sail to Jervis Bay to meet the family.
As usual I had prepared food and got Malua shipshape like Bristol and
drove to Bermagui in the VW Caddy. I had packed everything, got
the sails ready. The last thing to do was motor over to the fuel
dock the afternoon prior to an early morning departure and fill the
tanks. I let the lines go except one started the engine and
switched the fuel source from the aft tank to the forward. Both
had been used in my sail south from Queensland in November.
The engine spluttered and stopped within seconds. What had
happened? I opened the engine room and right before my eyes was
one of the fuel and water filter filled with water. The water had
come from the forward tank.
I set about implementing a solution. First sample the sump from
the forward tank. Sample the aft tank from the sump. Pure
Queensland diesel. Next the forward tank I opened the tap
and filled a two litre container and then a second. On the third
container diesel started to flow. The first four litre were pure
fresh water – good enough to drink.
Now, that is a lot of water. Where did it come from? The
only sources is the deck filler which is on the side of the
walkway. Yes – it appears that someone with marine knowledge had
opened the deck filler and added four litres of water to my
tanks. What would have happened if I had left the dock and the
engine stalled in the dangerous channel…. More on my response to this
later.
The aft tank was clear. I switched to this tank, replaced all the
primary and secondary filters and drained the lines and finally started
the Yanmar engine. With great caution I motored over to the fuel
dock to fill the aft tank and some containers.
At dawn the next day I left for Jervis Bay. With just a gentle
breeze so I had to motor-sail most of the way arriving at 9:00pm at
night to find all the mooring taken. I anchored out and moved
onto one the next day.
The family arrived and came aboard.
Next stage here...
