We chickened out when it came to robbing a bank. Neither of fancied the idea of 15 years in the Port Louis Penitentiary. But it must be "Pick on Calypso" year as things just continue going wrong.
The latest?......we almost sank! Paul was busy in the engine room trying to fix the fuel sight glass when the cockpit drain connection sheared. The two cockpit drains are the largest through-hull fittings on our boat. When it broke, a humongous amount of water gushed into the engine compartment at a hell of a rate. Not good! Paul had closed off the stopcock but this had obviously broken below it. I grabbed the largest bungs I could find while he dashed to get his mask and snorkel, jumped overboard and hammered one into the hole from the outside.
This helped but the bilge pump had to work continuously to keep pace. Still not good. We'd run out of underwater epoxy putty so he ran around the marina and found another chap who was able to bring some over to help out. After a major concerted effort, the leak slowed to a medium trickle which allowed the pump to cope. Phew! We now have no choice, we have to haul out again and urgently. As though we didn't have enough expense coming our way, now this.
We immediately called the boat yard who are trying to sort something out but, at this stage, they don't have sufficient chocks to place us on the hard. It's Sunday so we have to hope everything survives the night and try to persuade them to haul us and leave us in the sling for a day or two to give us time to fit new ones.
It never a rains but it pours!
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