Coffs Harbour to Batemans Bay September 2024...

I had been keeping an eye on Blackwatch in Coffs Marina for a long time as owner John lives in Canberra and has not been available to fulfil his plan to restore the yacht and attend to the long list of jobs required. Due to the upgrading of the Coffs Marina, John was asked to remove the yacht before the end of September.  John asked me if I would move it south to Pt Macquarie, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or ideally Batemans Bay. I suggested I would do an audit of what worked and what essential fixes were needed to make the vessel seaworthy and we set about the task at hand. There was a lot required but with John's help and understanding, we left with an understanding that we were going to closely monitor weather to ensure not being caught out in heavy conditions and that if sailing would use reduced sail to lessen load on the uncertain rig. The motor had been serviced and some new batteries installed. However.......

After about half a day motor sailing the motor started to waver. In the past this has been the precursor of a fuel blockage but not in this case and I diagnosed the fuel was too old and lost its potency. I decided to call into Newcastle and place the fuel which we did and after a full bleed she ran like a beauty! However......

Following night I was awoken after Greg (well done) noticed a change in the sound of the water exiting the exhaust and I found the second water pump belt had been chewed through. Why? I found the bolt which locks the tension on the belt could not be sufficiently tightened and on inspection found it not to be stripped (as suspected) but the engine casing the bolt is threaded into was cracked so not easily fixed especially at 0300. After some thought I decided I could create enough tension to tighten the belt via some green cord carefully placed around the body of the pump and through a hole i drilled in an engine mount at the opposite. Greg initially was not a believer but once I got it going and water again gushing out, he was convinced!

Another  chapter for the maybe one day book 'Tales of a delivery skipper'

We also had a beautiful welcome as we arrived at Batemans Bay by several Humpbacks.

Thanks Greg, this was a challenging one and keeping our cool and remaining open to jury rigs paid off.