Andy and Claire Wilson left us on Monday facing 3 days to get back to the UK. Bo delivered the spare parts for the transmission late Tuesday afternoon, so Andy spent all day Wednesday contorted in the engine bay removing the damaged parts, then cleaned and inspected as much as he could get at and see, even with the probe camera. He then started rebuilding the python drive with the new parts. Dave had a glorious warm, sunny day to tour Sisimiut taking in the museums and craft workshop before returning to help me get the dingy out of the water and safely packed away on deck. Andy finished the transmission and then gave it a hard test in harbour. He then took the CV joint back out so that he and I could double check the python drive bolts before handing back Bo's torque wrench today. We had a well deserved farewell glass or two of delicious Musk Ox beer in Hotel Sisimiut last night.

This morning Dave Benbow left for his return to the UK. We spent the morning finishing the engine, putting everything away securely and a final shop for fresh provisions. It has been really good being in the main harbour, tied up to Bo's work boat and two Targas. As they have needed to go out we have carefully danced around them, particularly as we have had no propulsion for several days. With three large cruise boats dropping guests off in the harbour, it was a busy wait to get alongside the fuel pontoon this afternoon to top up the tanks (691 litres). We last filled up in Aasiaat proir to leaving for Canada! Then hugs, thanks and a present of lovely fresh fish from one local boat engineer and we are heading out South to Nanortalik, some 500+nm. We expect to have to wait out a gale there on Monday, after which we can hopefully pick up the tail winds for crossing the Atlantic to the UK. As we left Sisimiut we had to change course several times to keep clear of two guys in a motor boat hunting a porpoise with rifles aimed and ready. Not sure if they got it but there were several shots fired. What a poignant farewell to this fabulous country and its lovely people. Hopefully we will be back in Destiny some day, but for now it's all focus on crossing the North Atlantic.

PICTURE: Destiny on the small fuel pontoon across the harbour from the ship yard, last year's winter home