Day 5: Pacific crossing
Today has been a series of unfortunate events. First thing in the morning we found a snapped bowsprit cable. A totally unexpected incident. That renders the Code 0 sail unsafe to fly. We had to take it down and change the sail plan to a reefed main and jib.
Martin was lowered down in a bosun chair below the bow to take the bowsprit off. That was an operation but not too stressful. The question now is how we are going to jury rig the bowsprit to make it strong enough to hold the Code 0, without the right tools and spare parts when we are 2200nm away from the destination.
While the captain and crew were working out a plan, we found the oven and cooktop were off. Then we realised the whole boat lost power, except for the navigation instruments. After all checks returned no results, the only option is to call our electrician as a matter of urgency.
Without power we have no starlink, which means we can't communicate effectively. Having a backup plan with starlink mini and a portable solar panel, we test it out but find the signal is unstable, going in and out.
In the meantime Martin tries to fire up the generator, but the battery is flat due to non-use for a few months. The pull cord breaks on first pull because of corrosion. Such misfortune! He has to then open up the generator to fix the pull cord.
The stress is immense, the double risks of damaged bowsprit and power failure weigh heavily on us. But everyone stays calm, not even an expletive word is uttered. After rounds of trying I get a connection on starlink mini, minutes later the generator is started and the regular starlink is working. Our electrician responds straight away with trouble shooting. After an agonisingly long time to fix everything just to be able to communicate, the solution to the power issue comes instantly.
Tomorrow we will continue to work on fixing the bowsprit.