Tuesday 23 February 2016

So there we were tearing the aft end of Anthem apart to find a gurgling, thumping sound that had been bedeviling us for months while rolling at anchor (elucidation to ensue) when up paddle a couple in a kayak from one of the cats that came in after us. Seems they had just placed a successful offer on a Hylas 46 and wanted to say hi. They and several others are on a 2 cat, 10 day crewed charter with Capt. Woody and Tania Aebi from Latitudes & Attitudes fame. Dinked over this morning for coffee and to return the hi. They're headed down to Langkawi by weekend's end. Cool. Say hi to the Bitchin's.

Couldn't figure out where the above referenced noise was coming from: rudder movement, water tank, tank vent, something rolling around, goblins? After a couple previous half-assed looks finally decided to evacuate everything from everywhere aft including under aft bunk and get to the bottom of this. Well, nothing in any compartment was moving or sloshing. No hoses were gurgling. There wasn't the slightest evidence of anything untoward. It was a quandary. Fortunately the staff nurse has a stethoscope. It's amazing how many weird sounds emanate from a boat when you really, really listen. Anyway, turns out there is a completely enclosed, watertight (oxymoron?) compartment behind the aft lazarette at the furthest aft extremity that was making thumping, bumping gurgling noises. Guessing water got in through transom ladder mounting screws, which will eventually require rebedding. Judiciously drilled hole near hull at aft end of laz (what could possibly go wrong?) brought forth a surge of water and an end to disaggreeable noise.. and we're still afloat.

Arrived Ko Muk (bad name, cool place) after motoring the entire way with no wind in time to swim through Emerald Cave (Tam Morakot). Best yet. 80 meter paddle through winding, dark tunnel to a small hong with really, really tall, vertical walls. Didn't take the camera. This is claustrophobic Jan's 6th scary cave/tunnel and qualifies her for the merit badge.

Jack