After a couple of stressful days, last night at about 10:00 pm, the engine came back to life and I, for one, did the happy dance!  The cause for the engine not starting proved to be somewhat elusive. Benjy worked at it incessantly for the best part of two whole days, interspersed only by runs into Hamilton for parts and to test the starter motor and yet still the engine refused to start.  Finally, we managed to secure some help from a local mechanic who showed up at 8:30 pm and diagnosed sub-optimal wiring of the starter ground wire that was causing the starter battery fuse to blow. He resolved that issue and by jove, it worked!

So, with a few other tasks completed, the crew better rested, all we have to do tomorrow morning is to fill up our fuel tanks (sadly duty-paid as we missed the duty-free session) and then we will be ready to join the rest of the fleet for an 11:00am start.  The question is, will we be sailing out through the St Georges cut?  The forecast calls for light winds for the beginning of the passage so we may well sail out.

I should say that we have also managed to have some fun.  We met up with Sheila and Steve on Saturday and had a most enjoyable evening together, first for drinks onboard Mazu, then at a local restaurant that serves excellent seafood.  Steve has been a fantastic help in putting us in touch with his mechanic who tested the starter motor and has also very kindly acted as a taxi service to ferry Howard and Benjy to various engine supply stores.

Yesterday was the prize-giving for the first leg…. another very well executed evening with an excellent sit-down fish fry dinner at the Dinghy Club.  Sorry to report that we were not nominated for any prizes …. but we feel that just the fact that we made it here with the group is prize enough for us.