25 Dec. 2016 Sun.
1330 Local
Position: 07° 20.28 N 137° 27.07 E
Moored
Three and a half months and it has taken a holiday to get me inspired to do some sort of an update. MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!
Since our arrival here in Palau we have not been truly busy and enjoyed just hanging out and catching up on relaxing. There has been some work done and also a very nice visit from our friend Connie. A trip to the Rock Island area of Palau, lots of swimming in the lovely warm and clear water either while on our mooring or during our Rock Island trip.
There have also been some setbacks. Kathy had to make a trip to Guam to see an eye doctor, nothing serious as it turned out. My engine work of replacing the rear main oil seal was a failure and we continue to have a substantial leak when running the engine. Something that will be taken care of in the future. Our water maker needs to be looked at again as the product water is not up to standards. Biggest on the list would be suffering a fractured patella on my newly replaced knee. I will be coming to the states in mid January to have it and the other knee that I injured just prior to leaving the Philippines looked at.
This is a lovely place and as we have just gotten resident status for the State of Koror the boat can stay here and as we as US citizens get one year visas we may be staying for an extended time. Others have told us that it is expensive here but we are not finding that so. Our mooring is only $50 a month and groceries or eating out are not really more than in the states.
That may catch things up a little and hopefully I will be a little more timely with future entries.
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Friday, September 9, 2016
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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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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Saturday, September 3, 2016
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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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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Thursday, September 1, 2016
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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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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Wednesday, August 31, 2016
PASSAGE TO PALAU DAY 5
1600 Hrs Local
Position: 06° 38 N 131° 52 E
Course: 084° Mag
Speed: 4.7 Kts.
Wind: Nil
We continue to motor along. I'm glad we have plenty of fuel. we were able to sail today for two short periods and without Miss Perky providing propulsion we would be drifting with our still favorable current.
It is quiet aboard as we have adapted to our 4 hour watch schedule.
Last nights ship contacts were with two Japanese ships, both having AIS and listed as pleasure craft. Most likely fishermen of some type.
Today's mystery was why a nearly empty water tank kept venting as i attempted to fill it. In stead we filled buckets and Kathy did some laundry.
All is well aboard and we have a projected arrival in Palau of Friday 2 Sept. in the morning hours.
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Position: 06° 38 N 131° 52 E
Course: 084° Mag
Speed: 4.7 Kts.
Wind: Nil
We continue to motor along. I'm glad we have plenty of fuel. we were able to sail today for two short periods and without Miss Perky providing propulsion we would be drifting with our still favorable current.
It is quiet aboard as we have adapted to our 4 hour watch schedule.
Last nights ship contacts were with two Japanese ships, both having AIS and listed as pleasure craft. Most likely fishermen of some type.
Today's mystery was why a nearly empty water tank kept venting as i attempted to fill it. In stead we filled buckets and Kathy did some laundry.
All is well aboard and we have a projected arrival in Palau of Friday 2 Sept. in the morning hours.
----------
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Tuesday, August 30, 2016
PASSAGE TO PALAU DAY 4
1700 Hrs. Local- Palau
Position: 06° 30 N 130° 02 E
Course: 093° Mag
Speed: 4.9 Kts.
Wind : E @ 5 Kts.
The past 25 hours have been motoring with wind, though light, on the nose. We do have about 1 kt. of favorable current. Clear sunny sky's and a calm blue ocean.
Several ships last night on crossing patterns but the one instance that could have been a problem solved by the AIS and Open CPN charting software. We were warned of what could have been a crossing situation resulting in a [ closest point of approach ] or CPA of 200 yards with a 275 meter LPG Carrier when they were at a distance of 20 nautical miles from us. As we were the burdened vessel, we change course and ended up with a CPA of 4 nm's. Modern navigation aids are great. We have no radar and if we had it would not have given us as much advance warning as the AIS.
We have 270 nm to the east pass entrance to Palau. Hopefully arriving Friday morning.
All is well aboard
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Position: 06° 30 N 130° 02 E
Course: 093° Mag
Speed: 4.9 Kts.
Wind : E @ 5 Kts.
The past 25 hours have been motoring with wind, though light, on the nose. We do have about 1 kt. of favorable current. Clear sunny sky's and a calm blue ocean.
Several ships last night on crossing patterns but the one instance that could have been a problem solved by the AIS and Open CPN charting software. We were warned of what could have been a crossing situation resulting in a [ closest point of approach ] or CPA of 200 yards with a 275 meter LPG Carrier when they were at a distance of 20 nautical miles from us. As we were the burdened vessel, we change course and ended up with a CPA of 4 nm's. Modern navigation aids are great. We have no radar and if we had it would not have given us as much advance warning as the AIS.
We have 270 nm to the east pass entrance to Palau. Hopefully arriving Friday morning.
All is well aboard
----------
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Monday, August 29, 2016
PASSAGE TO PALAU DAY 3
1730 Hrs. Local
Position: 06° 23 N 128° 29 E
Course: 100° Mag
Speed: 4.7 Kts.
Wind: e @ 9 Kts.
The sun has just set and after sailing most of the day we are motoring along.
Just after sending yesterdays report the wind changed and we were able to sail until 0230 this morning.
The water maker was re-commissioned this afternoon after installing the new membranes.
All is well aboard
----------
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Position: 06° 23 N 128° 29 E
Course: 100° Mag
Speed: 4.7 Kts.
Wind: e @ 9 Kts.
The sun has just set and after sailing most of the day we are motoring along.
Just after sending yesterdays report the wind changed and we were able to sail until 0230 this morning.
The water maker was re-commissioned this afternoon after installing the new membranes.
All is well aboard
----------
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