July 27th Lohbrunner Island to ??
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| Lohbrunner Island |
Today
we plan a nice long run to get some south mileage under our belt. As plans go it is good. However Mr. Murphy has decided to visit
us. We are off Price Island, open to the
Pacific when our engine dies. We mutter
a bit and then set to work troubleshooting.
Change the primary fuel filter. Check.
Change the secondary fuel filter.
Check. Check the air filter. Check.
Grinding of teeth. We have power
yet no rpms. The engine runs briefly and
then dies again.
We do this off and on for about an hour. Each time the engine runs briefly Pam steers
away from land. Thankfully the drift is
also, for the most part, away from land.
Having checked as many items as we can think of we discuss with Walt and
Odile whether or not they can tow us.
Their boat is thousands of pounds lighter than ours and the ocean swell
is quite rough. We all decide the better
option is to seek a tow. We notify the Prince
Rupert Coast Guard and they promptly put us in touch with the “Tea Cup,” a 37’
Nordic Tug who offers to come tow us to Shearwater. We set our sails and tack slowly down the
coast and await our friendly tow. Walt
and Odile sail along with us until we are safely tied up for tow and then they
sail off south for the evening and will join us again tomorrow in Shearwater.
Meanwhile, our competent tow boat skipper pulls
along side, talks us through what he wants to have happen. We learn later his name is Paul and we will
share more of his story if he OKs it.
Paul tosses Pam the tow line, and he commences to tow us some 30 plus miles. Paul normally has people join him on his boat
while the tow is underway so he sounds pleased that we have on board and will
use, our offshore lifejackets with harness, tether and jack lines and our
remote radio in the cockpit. Thankfully
the wind has not increased It is nice once we get off the open ocean and
the swell subsides. ExTerra is not used
to such speed unless the wind is howling!
We continue on our five hour tow. Pam radios ahead to Shearwater. As we approach Pam talks with Paul and
describes the layout of Shearwater hoping Paul will be comfortable with pulling
us onto the open breakwater. This
breakwater is not attached to land or to the marina so his boat can glide to a
stop while we are tied behind him and he can then continue straight out into
open water. Plan B is he will pull us on
around the breakwater and we will untie from him and drop the anchor. Christophe, the Shearwater harbour master
comes out in his workboat and ties to our starboard and is able to slow us down
and push us to the dock where the couple from m/v “Miss Placed” are there to
grab our lines.
Pam unties “Tea Cup” and Paul pulls away. “Wait” I say. We would like to do something for you at
least.” “No, you are in good hands now”
Paul says. “Well THANK YOU” and a big
wave from Pam and Paul is on his way.
Carl hops on the radio and he tells Carl the same thing when Carl
mentions we want to at least buy him some diesel. “No, that’s OK. We can keep in touch (and he gives Carl the
website). I was headed this way anyway. Thanks is enough. Just say thank you.” “Well thank you then” Carl says as Paul
motors off into the distance.
Once all lines are checked and we have a visit
with the folks from Miss Placed we dinghy in for a burger and a shower to help
decompress from the day. Upon return to
ExTerra the gal from Miss Placed comes over with fresh baked dinner rolls. We have one for dessert. Heavenly!
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| Shearwater at Sunset |
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