Today's Report
July 4/10 Honolulu Time
Position: 21°17'N, 157°53'W
Remaining distance to Yokohama finish: 13.4%
The proof of why you hold sea trials was dramatically demonstrated Saturday, after a hose on the engine suddenly failed and filled the engine room with exhaust smoke as it spurted sea water from the newly repaired raw water pump.
The 4-foot hose apparently was damaged by overheating that occurred when the cooling water pump's impeller disintegrated near the Galapagos Islands, but it never was evident while the engine was run at various times at the dock. Once out on the water when cruising rpms were applied, the weakened hose ruptured under the added pressure.
Dave's tender boat had been tied to the stern of NBSDIII, fortunately, so it was used to assist a return to the newly departed dock -- to everyone's great frustration.
However, that's THE reason for sea trials. Better for this to occur, of course, within a few hundred meters of the dock than a thousand miles out to sea!
And once the marine shops open back up the hose can be replaced, then a new sea trial carried out. Due to the three-day Fourth of July weekend, the earliest Saito-san can leave is thought to be this coming Friday.
