JG n Fifi: WE LOST MY HAT!!!! (and some......)

We lost my HAT! (and some....)

JG and Fi (happy with her hat..... )

Corinth canal and more Corinth Canal....... - 5th July

It was a beautiful start to the day in which we saw the sun rise over the flat water of the Gulf of Corinth. With not a breath of wind we started the day motoring west between the surprisingly mountainous mainland and Peloponnese. I was absolutely amazed at how high, rugged and beautiful it was – never thought to consider hiking in Greece before.

Sunrise in the Gulf of Corinth

Small breezes came and went and in order to gain head-way we were having to motor-sail. A surprise gust triggered the move to cut the engine and reef the main. As the gust passed we where back to the calm for a quick lunch. Shortly after the water darkened ahead and the white horses (breaking waves) were fast approaching. Thinking it to be alike to the previous gust we didn’t worry too much nor prepare for what lay ahead.

In a matter of seconds not minutes the wind whipped up to force 7 (from 3) with waves in-tow. Coming directly from the west we managed 70 / 80 degrees to the wind (north-ish) with a furled head and fully reefed main..... still too much sail and too little headway. With the wind easing , we boycotted the plan to continue up the gulf to an anchorage and headed due north for shelter. In order to make more than 1knot we started the engine..... or didn’t as the case had it.

Having had engine problems since the crossing to Creta, it was obvious it was a different problem because it cut out after 3 seconds rather than not turning over. Wind swirling, boat fighting the conditions and waves increasing, I held the helm as JG went to investigate only to reappear seconds later shouting that there was water down there. Thinking not much of it, (usually when heeled (leaning over to the side) RC often shows to have water from the bilge and it being rather extreme conditions perhaps there was a little more than usual....) i suggested, ‘Bail it!’ (scoop the water out and overboard with something).

Oh how wrong i could be. And so he began..... but with a bucket! The buckets became fuller and fuller each time JG came to the top of the step. With shouts through the wind it soon became apperent that a little water was a LOT of water! After just a few minutes, hearts pumping and safety lessons screaming through our minds, the decision was made to call for help. Not knowing the full situation below deck, i called a pan pan (not quite a maday) from the helm (wheel) which was thankfully received within 30seconds (only later did we find out that some people near Italy called a mayday 16 times only to end up in their life-raft since no-one answered them!). It was a Mega yacht – and OH YES, we do LOVE MEGAYACHTS, Ozzies (captain), Kiwi’s and SA’s!

With the wind still howling and the main sail still tensed, we tried to prepare for the tow from the mega-yachts powerful tender (small boat), water still flowing into the boat even after closing all valves. Taking a pause from the bailing-out JG went forward to throw a line to the RIB bouncing up and down next to us in the waves. Luckily through shouting and arm signals the two boys /crew (kiwi and SA’s) onboard caught the line and started the tow. In the meantime I was frantically trying to control our boat (locking the wheel didn't work) and take down a crazy flapping main at the same time, subsequently LOSING MY HAT....... :0( (much to the joy of the superyacht crew). I really loved that hat.

A small sacrifice you may say......

Still the problem was not yet solved. The tow had begun but we were still filling up FAST with water. I only realised how fast when JG took the helm and it was my turn to go down below. The water came half way up my shin and there is a good 5 – 10cm below the floorboards for the bilge. Oooh, It certainly doesn’t feel right wading through water when you’re IN a boat.

With a controlled panic i scurried around all the inlets i could think of double-checking the valves JG had closed.... nothing. No obvious water ingress point. Finally, lifting more floorboards, hatches and moving wet bed & sofa cushions out the way, opening the engine compartment and phew (!), i felt the great flow of water and could covered it immediately with my hand which of course isn't much use. Now, anyone sensible would stuff ANYthing in there but i was determined to find the bungs (conical wooden plugs) that i knew existed. Felt like an age, but finally i found them floating in the locker under our bunk and it was shoved in that hole fast!

With water even higher now it was my turn to bail-out, climbing the steps again and again to pop my head out to see the tow-boys laughing and joking whilst rounding the headland to the shelter of Galaxidi. Boy, did our shoulders feel this the next day! We where received by many; the drunk local, the fellow sailors, the make-shift harbour man (really the fuel salesman), the nosy locals and finally the port police. Everyone was all ears and full of stories, tales, advice and willingness to help.

The reality of the situation sunk in only when we finally sat down at 11.30 in a dull restaurant and picked at terrible pasta and a dry pizza, mulling over the days events and thanking our luck that we didn't end up in the life-raft with a boat stuck at the bottom of the Gulf! From tying up to the quay until 5/6 hours later we just kept going; bailing water with buckets, tubs and sponges, refreshing things with fresh water, discussing with locals, engineers, fellow sailors the options of repair especially and discovering it was actually the WHOLE SHAFT that had left us rather than the engine water inlet valve failing / burst pipe, (Yup, goodbye propeller and goodbye shaft (the long metal rod connecting the engine to the propeller which rotates to make us move under engine power..... which you unfortunately need on a sailing boat – especially in the Med).

What to do now?