9/12/07
Today things began showing just little teeny signs that maybe I can get something accomplished. Andrea and I had a chat this morning, and lo-and-behold, the dock attendants came to pick up the fuel jugs. The air conditioning service tech actually came at about 1:03 this afternoon. I had been working on the refrigeration since finishing coffee at about 7:30. I finally figured out how to get gas in the system so that I could leak check it. I found the leak where a stainless hose clamp was rubbing on a copper line.
Thank goodness that the line was a short one because I do not have the size tubing which is required. The a/c guy is going to repair the line for me and bring it back tomorrow. I also was successful in obtaining two new Schroeder valves for the silly charging ports in the even sillier unnecessary valve assy. The local dive shop had a tool for replacing them. One thing I never thought about bringing was a Schroeder valve tool. Guess that’ll teach me!
The GPS coordinates of the boat right now are: 27 24.42N 33 40.5E Google earth should be able to zoom right in on us. If you look close, I’ll be on deck waving at all of you!
My other projects are coming along well, although it seems like everything takes 4 times longer than it should. Tonight after six, I can pick up the laundry, so tomorrow; I’ll send a picture of me in a pressed t-shirt just for my friend No-mow Mike.
It sounds like Scott and company are having fun on their trip up the Nile. I certainly don’t eat as good when I do the cooking. Tonight for dinner I made spaghetti and meat sauce, the meat being chopped and sautéed frankfurters. Around here there are no onions, so I have to struggle along and use shallots instead. Just wish there was some wine left. That's one thing I can't buy around here, is alcohol. You can get it at the restaurants, with meals, but you can't go to the store and get wine, beer, or any other booze. I'll be all dried out soon, and then I'll be a real cheap date when I see you.
The wind has finally slowed down considerably. This morning for the first time, the deck didn’t look like a sandbox. There was just a light dusting of sand.
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Captain Scott ~ September 12th, 2007
Sept 12th the day after 9/11, and the day before Ramadan. We have encountered no hostility. I have now been in more than a dozen Islamic countries and have felt safe. Egypt is the second safest behind Turkey. The armed convoys are for show and reassurance.
Tourism is their life blood.
The 5 guys on this cruise are all from BBYC: Finley Matheson, Ken Hegy, Rick Bertold, David Brennan and Scott Piper. We regret sailing without a burgee. And sail we do. The Nile flows from the south to the north and the wind blows in the opposite direction. So we are doing what Egyptians have done for thousands of years--sail south then float back north with the current. Sometimes we slow to a standstill in lighter winds or stronger current but the miles pass by as we head for Aswan.
Two nights ago we stopped on an island for dinner and ate ashore by candle light. Music came from across the Nile from a wedding. Last night we stopped by an old Quarry with many rock tombs all of which we explored in the cool of this mornings dawn.
Tourism is their life blood.
The 5 guys on this cruise are all from BBYC: Finley Matheson, Ken Hegy, Rick Bertold, David Brennan and Scott Piper. We regret sailing without a burgee. And sail we do. The Nile flows from the south to the north and the wind blows in the opposite direction. So we are doing what Egyptians have done for thousands of years--sail south then float back north with the current. Sometimes we slow to a standstill in lighter winds or stronger current but the miles pass by as we head for Aswan.
Two nights ago we stopped on an island for dinner and ate ashore by candle light. Music came from across the Nile from a wedding. Last night we stopped by an old Quarry with many rock tombs all of which we explored in the cool of this mornings dawn.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Jeff's Log ~ September 11th, 2007
9/11/07
Trying to get anything done around here is like pulling teeth. The people in charge promise you the moon, but the Chiefs never speak to the Indians. Yesterday, my friend Andrea in the office had her day off. The fellow that takes her place when she is off told me that the refueling task would be no problem. Today, the fuel cans are right on the quay where I left them and haven’t been touched. He also told me he would send a maintenance man to see me and look at the refrigeration valve. That guy never showed up either.
I called the refrigeration company in the states, and he told me that the troublesome valve could be eliminated, and the system would function just fine. I asked him why they put an unnecessary valve in and he told me that that it was a redundant over pressure safety. So now, I’m trying to find the hardware that I need to put the system back together.There seems to be no such things as hardware stores in this part of the world. I did find an air conditioner store and tried to get the repair or installation tech to come to the boat. The salesman wrote info down to send him tomorrow between twelve and one o’clock, but that’s prayer time, so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
Today Andrea was in the office and I spoke to her about fuel. Hopefully, I’ll see some results soon. In the mean time, I am repairing the lower navigation lights and the wiring going to them.The boat on our starboard side left today to finish their trip to Dubai. After they left, the mooring buoy on the starboard bow lost a lot of pressure, so the boat ended up meeting the dock on an angle. I readjusted the bowlines and everything is fine now. Yesterday, a boat came in on our port side and the people aboard were from Austria. They have a two year old son who is just adorable. They gave me a dozen eggs, so as not to throw them away. They all left for the airport early this morning to return to Austria. The boat stays here until they go sailing again.
I dropped the laundry off this morning while making my rounds, and on the way back to the boat I stopped at the “best way” grocery store. I was trying to decide what to have for lunch when I came upon good ol’ Kraft MACARONI AND CHEESE. Well I bet you know what I had for lunch. The box was all in English, but they put a sticker over the instructions with Egyptian directions. Good thing I remembered how to make it, because I can’t read Egyptian.
Trying to get anything done around here is like pulling teeth. The people in charge promise you the moon, but the Chiefs never speak to the Indians. Yesterday, my friend Andrea in the office had her day off. The fellow that takes her place when she is off told me that the refueling task would be no problem. Today, the fuel cans are right on the quay where I left them and haven’t been touched. He also told me he would send a maintenance man to see me and look at the refrigeration valve. That guy never showed up either.
I called the refrigeration company in the states, and he told me that the troublesome valve could be eliminated, and the system would function just fine. I asked him why they put an unnecessary valve in and he told me that that it was a redundant over pressure safety. So now, I’m trying to find the hardware that I need to put the system back together.There seems to be no such things as hardware stores in this part of the world. I did find an air conditioner store and tried to get the repair or installation tech to come to the boat. The salesman wrote info down to send him tomorrow between twelve and one o’clock, but that’s prayer time, so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
Today Andrea was in the office and I spoke to her about fuel. Hopefully, I’ll see some results soon. In the mean time, I am repairing the lower navigation lights and the wiring going to them.The boat on our starboard side left today to finish their trip to Dubai. After they left, the mooring buoy on the starboard bow lost a lot of pressure, so the boat ended up meeting the dock on an angle. I readjusted the bowlines and everything is fine now. Yesterday, a boat came in on our port side and the people aboard were from Austria. They have a two year old son who is just adorable. They gave me a dozen eggs, so as not to throw them away. They all left for the airport early this morning to return to Austria. The boat stays here until they go sailing again.
I dropped the laundry off this morning while making my rounds, and on the way back to the boat I stopped at the “best way” grocery store. I was trying to decide what to have for lunch when I came upon good ol’ Kraft MACARONI AND CHEESE. Well I bet you know what I had for lunch. The box was all in English, but they put a sticker over the instructions with Egyptian directions. Good thing I remembered how to make it, because I can’t read Egyptian.
Captain Scott ~ September 11th, 2007
Sailing around the world requires continual repair. We exchange crew often and every new arrival carries necessary spares that can not be obtained locally. For example Pat and Gill flew into Egypt. They brought new membranes for the water maker. A new AC water pump. A toggle for the main sail headboard (custom machined and welded and hand delivered to Pat at the airport). New hinges for the head door, new sea strainer for main engine,(The old one cracked and was leaking into the bilge). Gaskets for leaking fuel tank, Regulator to replace broken one on propane tanks, New grease gun,Mainsail track cars. Also we carry items that are non essential such as coffee and peanut butter. When Gill found out how much the AC pump weighed, she complained about being my mule. There is no free lunch.And while we are floating down the Nile, Jeff is rebuilding the refrig-freezer with rolls of copper tubing, 134a gas, and soldering tools all of which he carried over. He will also put on 120 gal of diesel all by jerry can from a gas station in the city. The good news is diesel is 1.32 per gal. He will also replace the bearings in the jib roller furler, rewire bilge pumps, have main sail coverzipper replaced, bleed air out of autopilot hydraulic lines. All this heavyduty work while yours truly asks the steward for another drink. Yesterday we sailed all day which was glorious as the heat has abated. Most Nile cruises are 3 or 4 days but we will be on her for 8.
Jeff's Log ~ Sunday, September 9th 2007
9-9-07
I've been up since six and found that my hunch was right about the refrigeration. There is a bad valve block that won't allow refrigerant to circulate. I'll have to wait until tomorrow afternoon before I can call the company and see if there is any way to repair what I have or what ever.
Either way, life will go on. Today, this place looks like a graveyard. There is nobody around and the shops all seem to be closed. The high winds are continuing. It's been blowing since the second day here and has not slowed down. Wind is a steady 20kn, with gusts to 35kn. Boat is rocking a lot from the wind in the rig. Cockpit looked like a sandbox this morning, so I had to hose it down. We do not use the dock water in our tanks, so I ran the hose from the dock through the vent hatch in the head so that I can shower with the hose. That way the water we made which is in the tanks will last until we get back out to sea and can run the water maker.
Tomorrow, my main job is going to be getting the boat refueled. Diesel fuel is only 33cents a liter here, including taxes. There is no fuel dock, so all the fuel will have to be carried in cans. I think that 80 to 90 gals. Ought to do it, so there will be a few trips necessary. The marina staff is doing the running, so all I have to worry about is getting fuel from the cans into the tanks. While I'm waiting for them to run, there are several other little projects to do. There are some lights to fix and things like that, just on-going maintenance items. That's why I'm here!
I have to get the laundry done too. There's a laundry service here in the marina that is very reasonable, and they not only wash, dry and fold, they even iron everything that is not underwear, even t-shirts. I'll look really spiffy with sharply creased t-shirts!
Well, that's all for now from beautiful Abu Tig, Egypt. I'll attach some pictures again, so you all can see some of the things I’ve seen.
I've been up since six and found that my hunch was right about the refrigeration. There is a bad valve block that won't allow refrigerant to circulate. I'll have to wait until tomorrow afternoon before I can call the company and see if there is any way to repair what I have or what ever.
Either way, life will go on. Today, this place looks like a graveyard. There is nobody around and the shops all seem to be closed. The high winds are continuing. It's been blowing since the second day here and has not slowed down. Wind is a steady 20kn, with gusts to 35kn. Boat is rocking a lot from the wind in the rig. Cockpit looked like a sandbox this morning, so I had to hose it down. We do not use the dock water in our tanks, so I ran the hose from the dock through the vent hatch in the head so that I can shower with the hose. That way the water we made which is in the tanks will last until we get back out to sea and can run the water maker.
Tomorrow, my main job is going to be getting the boat refueled. Diesel fuel is only 33cents a liter here, including taxes. There is no fuel dock, so all the fuel will have to be carried in cans. I think that 80 to 90 gals. Ought to do it, so there will be a few trips necessary. The marina staff is doing the running, so all I have to worry about is getting fuel from the cans into the tanks. While I'm waiting for them to run, there are several other little projects to do. There are some lights to fix and things like that, just on-going maintenance items. That's why I'm here!
I have to get the laundry done too. There's a laundry service here in the marina that is very reasonable, and they not only wash, dry and fold, they even iron everything that is not underwear, even t-shirts. I'll look really spiffy with sharply creased t-shirts!
Well, that's all for now from beautiful Abu Tig, Egypt. I'll attach some pictures again, so you all can see some of the things I’ve seen.
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