The high pressure system is now leaving us for Ukraine or wherever at Southeast from here. Grey skies and drizzling rain was discovered upon opening of the hatch.

Variable weak winds during the day, increasing a bit at night and then a blow from East and Northeast during Tuesday and Wednesday with winds uo to 3o knots. We wanted to sail 45 M to North during the night when the winds was supposed to picka up a bit and well before the blow. Otherwise, we would get stuck here for 3-4 days to come. Not an appealing proposition. We were promised to buy 50 liters of diesel from the Tug boat Captain and had to move the boat some 50 meters to the 'big boat dock at the pier. After filling diesel, while we had lunch, there was a strange sound of pouring water in the boat. Horror!

Quickly I got the stairs covering the engine away and saw water pouring from the tray under the engine and down the bilge! HOLY G-D! For a second, I must have looked like a fish on land with my mouth open, staring like an idiot on the scene. Every sailors worst fear.... a leaking boat.

Then to action. Pumped the bilges dry, bailed the tray under the engine and saw no signs of a leak. Took every thing out of the cockpit lockers and the compartment under the aft deck to check all seacocks and valves and hoses. No leaks, everything in perfect working order. Unfortunately this left me with the nagging feeling I got right away.... THE REAL HORROR! The engine filled with water.... With a heavy heart I tried to crank the engine by hand, no success, I even heard water when I tried it but couldn't turn the flywheel of course. Then I got the final proof when I turned the ignition and nothing happened. DEAD: I am no expert in diesel engines, but I do recall reading somewhere that this means bent valves and a removal of the engine head. This is the best scenario.... the worst is of course, to toss the old iron genny and buy a new one. A quite hefty investment for sure. I remember getting a qoute in Sweden a year ago for ?'? 8000 for a new 3cylinder Yanmaar including installation.

Such bad news.

The tug boat Guy helped me with the diagnosis, and promised to call a yard here on the island tomorrow morning, to see if they could help me.