Six o'clock in the morning, the engine is running. I release the bridle and raise the anchor. Fortunately, the chain is free of fouling. Gaby comes forward and tells me that the engine alarm has gone off. A quick check shows that there is no more oil pressure. I switch off the engine and lower the anchor again. Oil level, coolant level, everything is fine. I check the engine compartment for leaks. Nothing here either. There is no visible damage to the engine. I don't know what to do and call the yacht service on channel 72. They send a specialist over, who also can't find anything wrong. Presumably an electrical problem, possibly the oil pressure sensor.
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| We on Nuku Hiva, Marquesas |
As the annual engine maintenance is due once again, I decide to carry it out now and stay on Nuku Hiva for the time being. The news doesn't paint a very good picture of Tahiti, which is currently plagued by heavy rainfall and flooding. Even if it is not a hurricane, the conditions for sailing to Tahiti by boat are not the best. Due to the weather conditions and Gaby's health, she will start her journey home earlier than planned and fly from Nuku Hiva to Germany. As soon as the weather calms down, I will sail to Tahiti. There is also a Yanmar service there that can check the engine thoroughly. What can you do, even in paradise things don't always go according to plan!
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| Bad weather on Nuku Hiva, Marquesas |
The weather is also getting worse here in the Marquesas. Yesterday we were surprised by a torrential downpour that soaked us to the bone. However, with an air temperature of 30°C, this is not a big problem. You practically dry off by yourself, or rather, you don't know whether you're soaking wet from the rain or the sweat. In any case, everyone takes it with a sense of humor. Even the numerous tourists who have arrived in the meantime can find a certain humor in the situation. Since last week, not a day has gone by without a cruise ship moored in the bay. They arrive in the morning, cart the tourists ashore in shuttles, and leave again in the evening. Many are driven around the island in cabs, but there are also a few daring people who explore the island on their own. Like us, they get caught in the downpour. It's good for nature and our boat has taken another freshwater shower, which is also very helpful.
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| Crusaders in the bay |
After we have done our shopping, I start organizing the trip to Germany for Gaby. Not always easy, especially as there are a few things to consider. As the flight goes via Los Angeles, you need a visa, even if the USA is only being used as a transit. Nowadays, everything can be done online via the ESTA procedure, although the online payment process has its pitfalls. Without a credit card, you are in a fix anyway, and depending on how complex the respective bank has designed its security checks, it can range from complicated to impossible. In our case, for example, the query works via a so-called security app, but then you need two cell phones. The transfer is started on one and the security query is started on the other during the payment process. So you have no chance with just one cell phone. You can't pay for a visa or a flight. So much for cashless payment options. Anyway, the third time the payment works and the first hurdle is cleared. The flight booking is then relatively simple, but the payment is also a problem again. In order to catch the flight from Tahiti on time, Gaby has to leave Nuku Hiva the day before. So we still need an overnight stay in Tahiti. Apparently, there are only hostels with five-star status in Tahiti, at least if you look at the prices. As Gaby categorically refuses to stay in a dormitory, I have to bite the bullet and choose expensive accommodation. All in all, this once again hits our budget pretty hard, which leads me to mention that my new book "4000 Miles to Paradise" has been on the market since December last year. Even though yet another teacher has given a scathing review without even having read the book, I think it's a pretty good book. Of course, I'm always open to constructive criticism and am happy to hear from any reader. But that's just by the way. Now it's time to change the oil and service the machine. We'll keep you up to date, of course, and until the next blog, we wish you always fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.
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