At 0530 on Thursday morning we were getting a squall with wind and rain, so I made coffee and got the boat ready to go assuming it would be short lived like most of them. It was and we weighed anchor (with double reefed main up and both engines running) at 0615 and headed out of the harbor. Leaving the harbor involved gybing the main which we did very calmly despite the continuing 25 kt winds. We ran out the channel under main only with engines at idle - just in case. Once we passed the clear water mark and were immediately off soundings, we turned, gybing again, and headed for San Andres. We had just unfurled about 75% of gennie and gotten the sails both trimmed well when the wind hit 30 kts. The boat fairly leaped ahead and the knot meter showed 15.7 as we surfed down a wave. Fortunately the wind did not stay at 30, but it WAS in the upper 20's for much of the day. At that point were running at about 120* apparent, and we were cruising along at 8-9 knots quite comfortably so the apparent wind was in the low to mid 20's.. When we cleared the lee of Providencia, the wind shifted more abeam and the waves grew. We were seeing 10-12 footers quite regularly. Still our boat speed stayed around 8 kts and Auto (who had thankfully agreed to work!) did a great job of steering. We caught a couple of brief squalls but generally sailed in the sun with lots of big clouds all around many providing extra gusts of wind. As we could just see San Andres on the horizon, the wind finally fell to high teens to twenties and I shook our the second reef. By now the apparent wind was up to 70* and the boat handled much better with more main. We stayed in 7 kts range. Approaching San Andres from the NE is a bit tricky. It is a 3+ nm long, well buoyed channel protected by a barrier reef, but I remembered that the reef was actually a bit further E than shown on the chart. Since the water goes from off soundings to 150' to dry reef in only a few boat lengths and since we were sailing down the outside of the reef (it being to our lee), it made me nervous. Then there was the issue that the wrecked freighter was not where it was shown on the chart. When we were abeam of the wreck, the chart showed it still ~1 nm ahead of us. Fortunately the day was clear and it was only 1400 so the reef was VERY obvious and easy to avoid. It turns out that this particular wreck (there are many) is newer then the chart and the wreck on the chart has broken up and disappeared. Trusting our waypoints but keeping a sharp eye out, we sailed to the entrance marker where we dropped sail and motored in. I called the port captain and in my best Spanish announced our arrival from Providencia. He said he would look for us. The channel was no problem. We got up to Nene's marina and anchored amidst a fleet of local fishing boats. We had come 72 nm with an average speed of just over 8 kts. When Deb & I were both comfortable that the anchor was set, I shut down the engines. Except the port engine didn't shut down. I pulled the kill cable but no low oil pressure alarm (which usually indicates the engine has stopped). I went to check and sure enough it was still turning over, but it didn't sound right and smoke was billowing up from the engine bay. I quickly turned off the switch that cut all electricity to the engine and it stopped. (Normally turning off a diesel with the key will NOT stop it. They do not need electricity to run.) I grabbed a fire extinguisher and watched and waited. Slowly the smoke cleared. No fire. It smelled electrical. I turned the power switch back on and immediately heard the starter try to start the engine so I turned it off. Long story short, the relay that I replaced after arriving in Providencia had stuck 'ON' causing the starter to be engage the entire half hour we were motoring up the channel. It sounds like the starter is toast. They tell me there is a good Yanmar mechanic on the island so we will see on Friday. Hopefully I can get a new one and a new relay. We cleared in with Renne, no problem. He even took my new crew list (with Dave & Lisa) and said he would prepare our zarpe for Sunday. All I have to do is see him Saturday @ 5:00 with all 4 passports and we are done. Couldn't have been easier. Mr. Nene was not around so I will have to see him Friday morning about the mechanic and also arrangements for meeting Dave & Lisa. He told Dave on the phone that his man could pick them up at the airport and bring them to the marina cheaper and easier then a taxi. Then they can get right to the boat.