Hallowe’en. Spooky.

Also Hash Day though it’s actually a night time hash and thankfully walking distance from SIMS.

I’m up pretty early. A major concern for me is the electrical issue with the bow thrusters, windlass and kill switch. I absolutely HAVE to figure this out in the next day or two or we are stuck here or perhaps back to Mt. Hartman Bay on George’s mooring until it’s solved.

I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the alternator. I start by digging into the electrical schematics I have for the Yanmar engine. They’re good but they don’t show connections for the accessories that aren’t working, just the kill switch and solenoid. Maybe it’s the fuse? Would seem logical but if that was the case the engine wouldn’t start either. I dig around under the captain’s seat anyway looking at fuses and connections but everything looks fine. I’m browsing the Internet looking for anything when I find a schematic showing the windlass connection on a Beneteau. This looks promising as it shows the connections from the starter to the alternator to a negative relay and then to the windlass. Once again I dismantle the panels under the sink, get my headlamp and inspect the wiring there.

There’s the relay, there’s the connections from the alternator and there is – what’s this, 3 lines coming off the relay. Hmm, windlass, bowthruster, kill switch. 3 lines. I take a look and the single connector that joins all 3 to the relay is a little loose. Just a little. I push it all the way on. Could it be that simple? I go and start the motor.

I’m holding my breath. Push the buttons to start the bow thrusters …. BEEP! They come on! Go up front and try the windlass. Works! I’m fist pumping the air like crazy and Christy and I are hooting and hollering. Even the kill switch works. We are in business for sailing to Antigua. As drunk Mike at Hog Island would stumbly say “Ish gotta be shumthin shimple” and it was.

Only problem is I’m now emotionally exhausted. Hard to get motivated to do anything else. I am suddenly drained, the relief is so great. It’s a beautiful day and Christy wants to go to the beach and it’s all I can do to get up and do it.

But we do. We hang out there for 45 minutes or so, then dinghy over to Prickly Bay Marina to go to the mini market. It’s closed so we head back to Milu.

It’s now 4 pm or so and we’re planning on doing the hash which is a night hash and walking distance from Budget Marine. After relaxing a bit we dinghy in with our hash gear and meet a bunch of others. We only recognize Kaye though she knows many of the other cruisers there. They’ve asked people to dress up for the Hash and a few do, we thought of it but just couldn’t be bothered int the end.

After the usual long intro the Hash starts. I run the 4 mile route while Christy walks with Kaye. Lane is busy with his engine so didn’t make it. I’m back in about 45 minutes, probably in the top 20 finishers which is not bad for an old man that doesn’t run. TOTALLY drenched with sweat though and really don’t dry off until well after Christy gets in, about 45 minutes later. Finishing the Hash is one time I allow myself a beer. Have a water afterwards.

Christy arrives, she has met a couple young Canadian girls, one with a cottage in the Burks Falls area, funny. We get some wings and breadfruit and depart before the ceremonies – it has been a long week. We have to return as Christy forgot the Camelbak somewhere but thankfully it is close.

Back on Milu, we both cool/clean off with an ocean skinny dip.