Prideaux Haven, Desolation Sound

 

 

We left Lund after filling up with diesel.  24 litres for the heater and 72 for the engine, a whopping $220.  Lucky for us, the wind was in our favour (there was some) and we sailed slowly north headed for Prideaux Haven.  With no schedule to meet, tides to plan around, or passes to go through it was a prefect day.  Sunshine, blue sky, and enough wind to move us along at 3-4 knots, not screaming fast, but quiet and free!  As we turned the corner to head into Desolation Sound proper, the wind picked up a bit and clocked around to give us a bit more speed.  About half way up Mink Island, the wind went from 7-8 knots on a reach to 15+ close hauled., all in the space of about a minute.  Pulled in some headsail and put a a reef in the main and we tacked our way up to Prideaux.  Found a lovely spot to anchor and that's when the fun started!

Cathy saw a bit of water on the cabin sole around the mast, odd we thought, we never get water there.  Pulled up a hatch in the floor boards and the forward bilge was full of water, pulled up the hatch over the main bilge and the water was just below the floorboards.  Turns out, I had forgotten to switch the bilge pumps back on at some point when I last used the Ham radio (when I transmit, the bilge pumps got crazy).  Not having the pumps on was only one of the issues.  We've been having problems lately with the bilge drain back siphoning water when we are under power.  Normally not a huge issue as the pumps keep the bilge dry (see above!).  The way the boat designed there is a main deep bilge that runs along the centre line, then they slope up towards each side.  When we were sailing close hauled, the boat is heeled over so the water in the bilge slopped up the sides, particularly port side where we have storage in the bilge.  Got everything sorted out (kind of), dry (not really) and then gave up, had a drink and left the rest to the next day.  I had to clean up some electrical connections that got wet but they were well sealed so no issues.

Lessons Learned:

1. Turn the damn pumps on after using the radio
2. Re-route the bilge drain so we can't back siphon anymore (this has gone way up in priority on the list of boat jobs!)
3. Check the bilges more regularly.

Put the prawn trap out for the fist time but without knowing where to go it really is hit and miss.  This time was a miss.  I did get a good workout though pulling up 400' of line, the prawn trap complete with lead weights and a lead weight on the line to keep the trap from drifting.  We've got 2 more weeks until the commercial prawn season starts so I hope we find somewhere to try again soon.