We left seisia late saturday afternoon had terrific fast comfortable motor sail til
24nm when tension pulley fell off kelly looked in engine room but did not see i found 12mins later tried to use snatch block to fix but it started to catch on fire. Bolted to engine block above engine mount using existing holes. Decided to turn back as wasn't sure this was adequate. Tacked an extra 16nm to get back to seisia. Took photos after dismantling it to clean and sent them to roosta and simon both said yes simon said it is stronger than the way it was originally. Left seisia again on wednesday winds weren't as strong so motored for 48 hours out of a 80hr trip. On the trip the gearbox started to leak transmission fluid from the gear selector arm, not much, about a teaspoon every 7hrs or so but enough to start freaking me out. We anchored in two island bay close to auster point. When we were about 3nm away from anchorage the depth sounder started acting up, not giving correct reading, changing from 20meters to 3meters gradually. But giving me the willies something shocking about running aground for the 3rd time. It stopped doing it eventually about a mile from where we anchored. At the second last engine check about half an hour from turning it off the water pump started leaking salt water. Just a couple of drips per minute but enough to really put a damper on the achievement. We stayed there for 2.5days to rest. While there we did a bunch of laundry, changed all the oils, all the air oil and diesel filters. We left 2island bay tuesday night at 6pm winds slightly stronger to start them it died off early wed morning got weather from roosta wed evening saying sunday supposed to be 25to30 so changed direction to sail to cape don. Winds varying a bit spinnaker up spinnaker down genoa, main, and inner staysail up. then down, engine on, engine off. While changing sails on wednesday found a tear on the luff of the genoa about a foot long. Also found chafe holes in the spinnaker sock, at the top where it sometimes rubs on the yankee's furler. Have not slept much on my offwatch during night time i tend to get woken up to deal with sail changes or daytime i can only sleep for 1-1 1/2hrs. Have not made final decision but nicole and i have talked and i will look for work while go darwin for the 4wks before we go and if i can we'll stay 12 months so i will feel better about it otherwise we'll leave wandoo either in indo or malaysia after rally and come back to aus to work for 6months. Thursday sail was quite nice sailed all day from wed till 2pm thurs when started motorsailing, by 3 the wind had died off completely. The gearbox seems to leak where the gearbox joins onto the small bellhousing at the rear as well now. Motored all night no wind at all until 2ish when started 5to10 way far forward. At 450am friday the rear welshplug started seeping coolant. I'm getting very disheartend. We arrived at trepang bay at 10.45 nice place we were a bit far off cos of big reef extending out from shore we could've gone north of it & anchored on the inside of it but winds were calm enough not to worry plus we didn't have to worry about running aground again. I spoke to roosta about issues he explained that the motor has done about 350 hours since new any truck engine that had done the same would be getting the same small problems. The welsh plug prob went in just slightly off or there was a scratch in it and 1 drop every few hours is not much. But if i was worried loosen the heatexchanger cap so there is no pressure in system (which i did). He also said the oil leak is most likely just a o ring or similar & try to relax a little. I also talked weather and we decided to leave to go to cape hotham saturday afternoon to catch the incoming tide through Dundas strait. We left at 2pm low tide was at 307pm. It to narrowest part at 6pm tide & wind working with us doing high 6 low 7 til about 9pm when both started going against us by 10pm tacking thru the wind & tide doing 2knots. Ah well. Started going with tide again at 3am sunday. Ended up being 23 hrs for 86nm. Got to cape hotham at exact time for us to go thru last bit of straits. But unfortunately nicole talked me out of going on. Anchored by 2pm stayed til 1am tuesday to make tide through Clarence Straits and Darwin in daylight. Had super fast trip through clarence strait but unfortunately had to motorsail tacking the last few miles into Fannie Bay. But we are here! I've contacted a few mechanics and am waiting for return calls as well as all the marina's have had calls or emails about a short stay if we can get it all sorted in a month or long stay if we can't. So goodbye for now i'm off to look for a job