Friday 30 June 2017

27th June 2017 Gallno to Stockholm.

We got up before 0500 in order to get into Wasahamnen as other folk were leaving. The journey usually takes about five hours.
The day started well with the usual preparations of removing the steadying sail (which immediately produced an increase in Badgers head wagging) and then raising anchor. However we had motored less than 200 metres  before the engine overheat alarm started screaming. I checked the engine temperature with my hand and it did no seem very hot so went to check if the cooling water was coming out of the exhaust. That seemed OK too so I decided we had to stop the engine, anchor once again and investigate. This time I used a thermometer that came with a multimeter from Clas Ohlson. This definitely showed a hot engine so we left it top cool while we had breakfast and thought a bit.
I then checked the engine coolant circuit and found not much liquid there so refilled with antifreeze and water. We started the engine, pulled up the anchor once more and set off again with the engine keeping a very steady temperature of 80C.
The wind was adverse but light so we made satisfactory progress lessening as the wind strengthened against us. We passed Grind and Vaxholm without incident and then got into the outer Stockholm harbour where our speed was reduced to 4 kts. and I unfurled the genoa. This increased our speed to nearly six kts. but made the boat difficult to handle. When the wind headed us I tried to furl the genoa again but failed. I just could not pull hard enough on the reefing line. Eventually I resorted to using the genoa sheet winch which is potentially dangerous as serious harm to rig or furling  can result if for example the furling line is fouled. Luckily I was able to furl a little of the sail and continued to furl the sail, which brought it under control and our speed down as well. The result was the tightest and neatest furl we have ever had. By this time we'd been motoring about four hours and soon afterward the overheat alarm went off again. We, of course, were in the main shipping channel into Stockholm, not nice.
Luckily neither ships nor fast ferries were anywhere near so it was a case of refill the engine and continue. There was no finesse. Take off radiator cap with a cloth to protect against scalds. Take kitchen mug, fill with water, pour in water, repeat till full, replace cap and start the engine. This again brought the temperature down and we went on again. I got increasingly nervous in case the same problem recurred, particularly when close to Grona Lund. Here ferries cross and recross incessantly so that collision when motionless would be  a definite possibility. Luckily nothing happened and we made it to a berth without incident.
We then had lunch, snoozed or slept and then had supper and went to bed.
The next morning Kristin and Heather wen to off to look at the Wasa while I tackled the engine. It was in fact childishly simple. When I started the engine bubbly froth started appearing at a hose joint. All I had to do was to tighten the hose clip and refill with coolant.  I then did a test run up to an indicated temperature of 70C and cleared up.
The point worth remembering is that when the engine was hot all that escaped from the leak was invisible steam, which I could not easily and quickly identify. When cold I got very visible bubbles.
Now Heather has left us to return to Totnes and we are sitting out high winds and promised rain in a fair amount of comfort in Stockholm

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