Itaparica to Tororó
Author: Shirlz
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
When I got back on Sunday I was happy to see that Ron and Brian were still here. I anchored, as usual, on the far side and rowed over to Brian’s ketch to say hello. Ron and Ewan were also there. Coffee. Told them about my engine problems. Was advised to get hold of a workshop manual. Should be fixable.
This morning I was thinking about it and am not totally convinced that the head gasket is causing the problem. The water in the oil is clear and obviously not the coolant liquid. How is it getting there? A crack in the engine block? Was the new gasket fitted on BsAs a waste of time? Will I need a new engine? There have been so many unexpected heavy expenses lately – it’s a bit alarming. I think I might abandon my plans for the north coast and head as quickly as possible to Trinidad for a major refit. The boat and myself (I’m thinking teeth and hearing aids) could certainly do with it.
08:09
Just had a session with Visual Passage Planner and this is the worst possible time to head north up to Cabedelo in a boat that is slow to windward. Looks like March or April would be worth waiting for.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
I managed to find and download a PDF file of the workshop manual for my engine. It should be a help. I did some reading and thinking about the problem yesterday and have convinced myself that the water must have got in via the exhaust system. Those rough wind-against-tide days that I had quite a few of in Cachoeira could have done it. Wind blowing the waves up against the stern. I will try to get the tap I installed near to the exhaust opening working again. It’s corroded and seized up, fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) in the open position.
17:43
After breakfast this morning I scratched around and found the sikaflex bung I had made to plug the exhaust outlet before leaving Port Owen. I had never used it. It seemed like the easiest way to prevent water splashing in. I can reach the hole by leaning over the stern so it will be easy to get it in and out. I attached it with a string to the Navik mounting in case it falls out. I feel so much better about the engine now. No need to rush away until the weather is good for heading north. I think I’ll move along to Catú tomorrow as Itaparica is getting too crowded for me.
Ron met me ashore and walked with me to show me where to find the local sail maker. I’m hoping to be able to lay the sail out and get the shape right. No one at home, but now I know where to go. Picked up some essential supplies on the way back including some freshly caught prawns from a fisherman on the jetty.
By now the dock and anchorage at Itaparica had become nightmarishly crowded. Powerboats and jetski’s jostling for space. Rowing back to Speedwell was rough with their careless wakes ripping up the normally calm water. I decided to waste no time in getting out of there.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
I had a gentle sail down to Tororó yesterday. No one else there. It was a beautiful evening. After a quick swim I made a delicious moqueca with the fresh prawns and ate in the cockpit, enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
Very early this morning I put the dinghy back in the water and rowed ashore with a bucket and jerry cans. Sinbad decided to come along. The tiny waterfall was a fairy grotto in the early light. I filled the jerry cans and rowed back to the boat to fetch some containers for sand. The beach was clean and white, perfect for Sinbad’s litter box. After about an hour the cat had done enough exploring and made it clear that it was time to get back to the boat. Back we went with clean water and sand. Time for breakfast. We had just settled back on board when the first of the weekenders started arriving in speedboats and jetski’s. We were anchored far enough away not to be too bothered.
Quite a few boats visited the waterfall during the day – some only staying for a quick swim and then moving on. By late afternoon we were on our own again. Went ashore for a sparkling shower under the waterfall. I had a whole bottle of champagne to get through, so started at sunset. I was just enjoying the first glass with a bowl of popcorn when a massive catamaran with about eight people on board arrived. They searched about for a place to anchor and thankfully chose a spot really close to the shore and not too close to me. It took them a few attempts to set the anchor.
Sitting outside in the cool of the evening time passed quickly. I was totally engrossed in the book I’m reading, ‘Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self’ by Claire Tomalin. A wonderfully accessible way of appreciating his diary. It gives a fascinatingly intimate and familiar account of a tempestuous chapter of English history. Crazy mingling of his somewhat messy home life and momentous affairs of state. An irresistible quote: I know nothing that can give a better notion of infinity and eternity than the being upon the sea in a little vessel without anything in sight but yourself within the whole hemisphere.
A few minutes before midnight the fireworks started. The little town across the river put on an impressive display. A happy end to a wonderful year.
Tags: cruising
January 12th, 2012 at 20:33
And I hope that 2012 is equally happy and rewarding. Thank you for your blog – it is so inspiring.
February 5th, 2012 at 19:36
hello shirlz,
i have a 24 ft junkrigboot in germany, and i startet this jeahr
by the jesterchallenge to azores
you have a beautiful boot.good luck
regeads
thomas
sorry my englisch is not good