OUR PASSAGE, THE GOOD AND BAD

09 Sept. 2016 Fri.
1730 local
Position: 07° 20.287 N 134° 27.076 E
Moored

We have been here in Palau now for one week, trying to get used to the cruising lifestyle once again. There has been lots of small boat things to take care of and also exploring the new town of Koror here on the island of Palau. We are moored off Sam's Tours, a dive business operated by an American expat that first arrived here in the mid 1980's. Sam's is also the home of the Royal Belau Yacht Club to which for $35 we are now members. Our mooring fees are $50 per month. The restaurant at Sam's is good serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kathy likes the white wine they serve and 14 oz. draft beers that are brewed here on the island at $4.50, all money here is in US dollars.

Here is a summery of our passage. We traveled 585 nautical miles in 144 hours, so an average speed of 4 knots. 114 hours was motoring and a measly 30 hours sailing. We burned approximately 80 gallons worth of dinosaurs. In leaving Mindanao we knew we were in for light to no wind but we needed to escape the Philippines at all costs. We had had enough of the threats there of terrorist activities. It was while underway that we were told of the latest bombing that took place in Davao. We are happy to finally be away from there. We did experience a number of mechanical problems the worst of which was lots of oil leaks from our faithful auxiliary engine Miss Perky. I don't believe sitting around and not running much during the previous 18 months did her gaskets any favors. The biggest leak was from a rear main oil seal which I knew was bad but had not addressed. We had a wire on the alternator break which caused us to lose the tachometer reading but that was an easy fix. Thankfully the biggest issues, losing the raw water pump pulley did turn out to be an easy fix thanks to Kathy's quick action stopping the engine and the final problem we discovered after clearing customs and heading to Sam's. A raw water exhaust hose that had it totally failed would have shot salt water throughout the engine room. Again Kathy saw the bilge pump light stay on for to long of a time and had me check things, some temporary tape and next thing we were safely on our mooring. the big positive we had were the lack of fuel problems that had plagued us when we came from Cebu to Mindanao. We definitely enjoyed how well our new auto pilot worked. the AIS which tracks other ship traffic was great. Keeping us advised of potential collision courses long before we could see the ship visually.
All in all other than it being a basic motor boat ride it was a fine passage.

Today was spent looking into what has become my newest health issue. Just prior to leaving Ocean View Marina I being in to much of a hurry attempted to go up two stairs at once, pulling something in my last remaining leg joint that has not become bionic. I have no real idea of the problem but something soft tissue related. We visited the hospital today. Of course there is no orthopedic doctor here or facilities for an MRI.
X-rays were taken and there appears to be no damage to any of the bones, no MRI means no way to see soft tissue damage. There is a physiotherapist on island who has been highly recommended but that will wait till next week. My hospital visit was very inexpensive! The doctor I saw, knee x-rays, a Tylenol/codeine prescription and a short time with the hospital physical therapist all for $47.

We now have lots of new things to experience here in Palau.

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SAFE ARRIVAL IN PALAU

03 Sept. Sat. 2016
0630 local
Position: 07° 20.287 N 134° 27.076 E
Moored

A quick safe arrival message. At 1145 yesterday 2 Sept. we docked at the Malakal port wharf to clear customs, immigration and quarantine.
Once completed we continued to our present location.

Last night was the after passage sleep of the dead, another update soon to follow.

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PASSAGE TO PALAU DAY 6

1600 Hrs. Local
Position: 06° 47 N 133° 30 E
Course: 094° Mag
Speed: 4.9 Kts.
Wind: NNE @ 8 Kts.

We continue motoring along toward Palau. We have an ETA of 0600 tomorrow morning plus or minus as we can make speed adjustments. We hope to actually enter the pass about 0800 with the sun behind us for visibility, arriving for customs and immigration clearance about 1000.

Today's bit of fun was Kathy waking me from an off watch nap and saying there had been a banging noise in the engine room and she had shut the engine down. On checking I found the pulley on the raw water pump had come off. Draping over the hot engine I managed to retrieve the pulley and then using a new key and nut from a spare pump put things back together. An hour of fun in the hot confines of Miss Perky's engine room.
It's good these things happen on Kathy's watch as she always hears the sounds and then reacts correctly.

All is well aboard and we are looking forward to tomorrows arrival.

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