10:51.15S 142:20.95E

Seisia, 23/06/13

All was going well until…. about 20 minutes after starring the engine to go into the anchorage here. It was directly into wind for a couple of miles or sail past about 5nm then tack and beat up into the anchorage. The fan belt broke.

Maureen and Paul came belting out in the dingy to try and get me in but it was no go. They returned and I got the main up and tried to beat in with that. No go either, I don’t think I’ve ever sailed Trouters with just the main, must have done I suppose but on this occasion she wouldn’t hold heading. A bit of gennaker did the trick and we made unspectacular progress from by now 5nm South of the anchorage. The problem(s) were flukey winds and a very strong S going tide. I basically was trying to ferry-glide towards the shore so when the tide did turn I’d be carried into the anchorage. It didn’t quite work that way. I managed to get within 150 metres of where I wanted to drop the hook then it all went pear-shaped and I just couldn’t work my way back in so now I’m about 300 metres away from where I wanted and a hell of a row to shore. Tomorrow I’ll see if I can enlist some chasps to tow me further into the anchorage with their dingies then it’ll be a search for a new fanbelt. Paul did a great jib but the belt broke at the join.

Naturally the wind has now come up so no way can I raise the anchor. If I drag all I can do is pay more chain out rapido. I’ve got just over 35 metres down and should be in about 7 metres at high tide.

Oh yes, the bloody batteries were flat again this morning. I have the radio and an anchor light on overnight. And yes, I did buy the batteries in Fiji.

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