Day 27 - Stavoren

Monday 29^th June – Stavoren – Day 27

The morning was spent walking round the town and shopping.

Station and Church

The railway station appears to be run by enthusiasts with information on steam train excursions, we saws none at the time and for a Monday morning it all appeared unusually quiet.

Syd the Shopper

After collecting stores in the Spar supermarket, along the high street numerous stores were being set up and we could not resist this wonderful selection of fruit and veg.

In the café next to the drawbridge, a late bacon omelette breakfast was enjoyed with an iced tea to quench the thirst, on this very warm morning.

We left the marina and cleared the harbour entrance at 12.30 and had a wonderful sail across the Ijsselmeer on a port tack arriving in Stavoren at 15.00.

I made my introductions to the harbour master while Syd went off to explore the town.

On returning to the yacht after kicking my shoes off on this very warm afternoon, entering the cabin the starboard side section of the carpet was wet and on investigation, there was two inches of water in the centre bilge and water in the starboard side provision and under the cooker lockers.  The centre bilge was pumped out using the built-in bilge pump and the lockers mopped out.

Where is the water coming from?

All lockers were inspected within the cabin and nothing found.  All items from the very large cockpit locker were removed onto the deck and the side panel removed from the engine compartment.

Speed log leaking tube

The water ingress was from the speed log tube, an attempt to tighten up the securing nut, although it did move was not sufficient to stop the leak. 

The speed log unit was removed and blank fitted to the tube, but it was still leaking.

Now suspected the tube was cracked and wrapped it with self-amalgamating tape and secured with two jubilee clips but still the water is weeping in.  The boat is sinking!

By this time Syd had returned from ashore and over a few drinks we discussed our options.

On the positive side, we had at last established where the water was coming in, and more importantly, knew how to get rid of it with the bilge pump.

 

A watch system of checking and pumping out every two hours, if necessary, was agreed.

It was not a peaceful night.