We prepared for the trip back to Point Hudson early Sunday morning. The forecast was for 20-25 knot winds from the Southeast with probable showers and 1 to 3 foot waves growing to 3 to 5 feet in the afternoon. We hanked on the jib sail and led the sheets for it to the cockpit. Uncovered the main and got it ready to be hoisted. The Genoa sail was all set to go. We put on our foul weather gear with gloves to protect ourselves during the sail home. We stowed the generator and strapped it to the stern rail after putting on the cover. Everything was checked below decks and strapped in and the doors fastened closed.
The engine was started and I started the windlass to pull up the anchor. The bay had been said to have a mud bottom and it held true to its reputation. The chain was clogged with mud as was the anchor. I used a brush on the chain to try and get as much off as I can. Tracy was at the wheel and controls. By the time the anchor was up, the forward deck was awash in mud. I had plans for the hose on the dock when we arrived at the marina.
Off we went to tour through Mud Bay just to the East of Hunter Bay. We were glad we anchored in Hunter Bay as we found it much more attractive.
After the tour, we headed out through Lopez Pass into the Rosario Strait to face what Mother Nature was ready to throw at us. As we passed through the pass, we faced a small incoming current. It slowed us just a bit but out we went into the fray.
WHAT FRAY!!! It was dead calm. Not a breathe of any wind to be seen. We were ready for bear and couldn't even find a cub. The only wind we felt was what came at us as the Zephyr moved forward. We motored the entire way back to Point Hudson. No waves, no wind and no rain!!! You just can't believe the weather people of the world. I know they have lots of computers and satellites so why can't they get it right or at least closer to what is actually going to happen.
Once back at Point Hudson we made a stop at the pump out station to empty our our tanks. We think the stern tanks pump is no longer pumping and will need to be replaced shortly. We can hear the motor running but nothing appears to come out the under water pipe. We picked up the "joker" valve to fix the forward head during the afternoon after we arrived back at Point Hudson and I installed it last night. So far so good.
I pulled a muscle in my back yesterday morning while coming onto deck. No lifting, no nothing, just coming onto deck. I have taken it easy ever since. I went to the doctor today for some nice drugs!!
The kids took the trip back from Hunter Bay just fine especially since the boat wasn't rocking just riding along nice and smoothly. Tracy fed Snowshoe a anti-seasick pill just before we set off. He was very mellow through the rest of the afternoon.
Nice hot showers and laundry was the call of the afternoon after our return. The decks got scrubbed and the sail repacked, covered and stowed. The electricity was plugged in, the batteries charged and the satellite turned on. We were all set, safe and sound.
We flipped the switches and on came the power inside Zephyr. I set out to align the satellite system and found that the receiver had fried itself and wouldn't come on. A call was place to Direct TV and they are ending us a new unit. It should be here by Wednesday. We pulled out the old antenna that we had used while in Newport and hooked it up. We set the tv to do an auto channel search and let it loose. It found lots of channels--over the air channels that we had no idea even existed. Many broadcasting in HD. We finally got to see what our set will do in HD. Boy, I can sure see why people like it. This afternoon, the receiver fired it self up and is running just fine. I still plan on switching it for our unit upon its arrival.
Two of Sea Marines mechanics came by the Zephyr this morning to check out the transmission to see why we have been having problems with the propeller never stopping. They checked it out went off to call the people that made the transmission to see what could be causing the problem. The current thought is that friction plate in the transmission may be defective and the entire new transmission may need to be pulled and sent back to be rebuilt. OH JOY!!! More time here in Port Townsend. We'll get the official report in the next few days. Better it happen here and now than once we left. That is one of the primary reasons we decided to spend the next few months in this area instead of setting off for Mexico.
Jack, the electrician, came by after the mechanics left and we reviewed the electrical system he has installed on Zephyr. From what I have learned over the past few days, plus what our son Matt had sent to me about battery systems, it all became much clearer. We discussed everything from the grounding system to the problem we have had with the "inverted polarity"on the generator connection to the electrical system on Zephyr. We discussed the installation of the wind/electrical generator that we have planned for later this week--weather permitting.
It's going to be a busy week.
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