Thu 5 Jul

One of the nice things about having a basecamp is that we have a postal address, which allows us to have things delivered. It’s both a blessing and a curse though as it becomes all too easy to buy stuff, our favourite excuses being it’s much cheaper, and we also don’t know when we’ll next be somewhere for long enough.

Today’s arrivals included facewash, some bread cases for the GoSun solar cooker, a rail mount for it (so we can cook on the go), and most excitingly a Garmin InReach Mini. We’re planning on doing some longer passages and although we have the VHF radio, it’s a little unnerving (mostly for the parents!) that we’re out of range for longer periods of time. This tiny box is a satellite communicator which allows 2-way text messaging, the sending of automated position updates via email, weather forecasting and the triggering of an SOS alert.

This afternoon I went into the city to meet the lovely Angela for lunch whilst Tom went for a run and got a much needed haircut (he was starting to resemble a yeti). Then the boat jobs commenced. ?

Tom made a start with running and connecting cables in preparation for installing the wifi module to accompany the chartplotter. This’ll allow us to mirror the plotter on our phones so if one of us is down in the cabin we can also see what’s going on (and bark instructions to whoever is on the helm to get back on course! 😉 ). Meanwhile I wanted to see if I could get access to the chain which connects the wheel, via the steering mechanism to the rudder, because during the sail last weekend it felt a bit clunky.

According to the internet, the procedure usually involves removing the compass which then opens up access to the top of the chain. Easy right? After spending a good half an hour trying to remove four impossibly tight screws Tom came on deck and told me they were the wrong ones. ? With the correct set located and removed I expectantly lifted out the compass, but much to my disappointment all I found was yet another freakin’ panel. Not only was this panel held fast by the aforementioned screws, it would be a major operation to dismantle. I admitted defeat but whilst the compass was out we put in new connections to power the light as the old ones were really rusty, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Tom on the other had made sterling progress so we should be able to finish up with the chartplotter this weekend. Famous last words.

Tomorrow we’re off to a wedding in Roses (which is about 120km up the coast) so we’ll be back with an update on Saturday (hangovers permitting 😉 ).