This cruise is off to a slow start - even though we lopped off many miles because of the slow start from Nova Scotia. On the 2007 cruise, we were plagued by a series of engine problems. This time other parts of the boat need attention.

The bad news: We thought we were all set to drop our lines and sail off early this week but we've had another gremlin pop up. As Jim was filling the water tank on Sunday, we discovered that water was running almost as fast out of the tank and into the bilge. We had been finding more water in the bilge than we used to and in hindsight, it was probably a small, slow leak that turned into a large, fast one.

We checked everything over in hopes that it was a hose or a connection but decided it must be the tank. On Monday morning, Dave (from Zahniser's) made the same check and came to the same conclusion. We have an 88 Imperial gallon tank located forward under our berth. Of course there was no easy access to it, so Dave cut away the fibreglass cover to expose the aluminum tank and found a significant split in one seam. The picture above shows the tank cut in pieces (to get it out through the companionway)

The good news: We discovered the problem here where we can get it fixed. We have ordered 2 new aluminum tanks. (2 so they will fit in, and so that in future, if we get a leak in one we will still have another tank, and if one gets tainted water it won't affect our whole water supply).

The bad news: They have to be custom made in New Jersey and that takes a week. We expect delivery by Friday - or should I say, we HOPE delivery will be Friday and then we are looking at 2 days for installation. So we will be here a while yet.

More good news: The mast was stepped this morning. Yea! Madcap looks like a sailing ship again! With one new halyard, freshly lubricated roller furling, tight rivets, a new toggle, all new mast wiring (some done at home in NS and some done here), and Spartite to prevent leaks down the mast, surely we will have no issues on this front. The new AIS works. The new propane sensor works - at least we know that so far it doesn't go beep, beep, beep even when there is no possible way there is a propane leak.

We moved back on board last night, and as much as we have enjoyed staying in a real house and sleeping in a real bed, it felt just wonderful to be back in our own cosy nest. We will do some more work on getting things back into shape as well as some touristy things over the next few days. Washington is less than 2 hours away. I'm going off to Annapolis with Carole on Wednesday while Jim attends to some chores.

Our good news items still outnumber the bad news, although all this time on a dock will seriously skew our anchorage to dockage statistics!!