#119 NOW September 16, 2006 1400 (UTC -11 hours Samoa Standard Time) S14016.36 W170041.67 Anchored in Pago Pago Harbour Good Afternoon, Once again, I am back in Pago Pago Harbor. Yes, my friend Dick Denney arrived on schedule Sunday evening. And yes, we did depart for Fanning Island Tuesday at 12:35. However, problems developed. While the easy leg I had done from Apia to Pago Pago went without any problems. The rougher weather (8 to 10 foot seas) we encountered north of American Samoa caused the supply reservoir to start leaking again. This time several new leaks developed and it was obvious that repairs while underway would be impossible. The vibration of the boat has caused leaks to develop around the brackets that are welded to the tank and along the seams on the backside. In addition, Dick took a fall and hurt his back, which was giving him some discomfort in the rough seas. Thus, the decision was made to turn back, which we did about 100 miles Northeast of Pago Pago. We arrived in Pago Pago at 0200, called the Port Control, which told us to anchor out and clear back in with customs in the morning. It was nice to get a few hours of good sleep. The next morning we started the process of clearing back in. Yesterday, I removed the tank, which came out much easier than I had anticipated. Monday I will take it to a welding shop and hopefully they can repair it. It might also be good to mount it on some rubber washers to absorb some of the vibration. In addition, I found a shop that made up a special connecting hose with proper fittings to allow me to connect the engine direct to the main tank. This will allow me to bypass the supply reservoir and a keep the main engine running. This system will also be usable with the genset, which will allow me to run it to keep my batteries charged and the air-conditioning on while I am getting the tank fixed. So progress is being made, there are always solutions to problems. Unfortunately, Dick will be flying back to the US on Sunday. He has been a great help and I have really enjoyed his mentally challenging discussions. Conversing with some people is a real pleasure. I have considered shipping the boat back from Pago Pago. The trip from here back to the US is not going to be easy as we will be facing head seas and headwinds most of the way. It is the price you pay for going downwind. My dream of cruising the Pacific has been fulfilled and perhaps it is time to take the easy way out. Another option that I am considering is to sell the boat here in Pago Pago where there is no sales tax. This may be a perfect opportunity for someone who is planning to cruise the South Pacific. They could head on down to Australia or New Zealand for the southern summer months and cruise that area during the cyclone season to the north. The savings to me, by not shipping or cruising the boat back to the US, could be passed on to the buyer; making for a very good buy. If anyone is interested in this idea, please contact me immediately (<mailto:lrick3@yahoo.com>lrick3@yahoo.com) as there will be a very short window of opportunity for this option. My final option is to find some like-minded masochist that does not mind banging into rough head seas from here to Hawaii. If you are interested in a crew position, here are the requirements. First choice will be to relatives and close friends. Second choice will be to others with offshore experience, and either owning a Nordhavn or planning to purchase one. Others would be acceptable depending on their experience. This is not a difficult job, but my insurance company has certain experience requirements. I am fairly easy going. However, only non-smokers will be considered, and the use of alcohol should be limited. You must be in good health. I will consider one individual or a couple if they are interested. You will need to provide your own transportation to Pago Pago and from Hawaii. Everyone will need to pitch in and help with the cooking and cleaning as well as standing watches. As I am sure most of you know by now, I take cruising very seriously and safety is my primary concern. There are always problems to deal with when boating; however, the boat has been maintained to the highest of standards. Departure date will be as soon as possible, subject to a good weather window. The library here has a good internet connection and any correspondence can be sent direct to me at <mailto:lrick3@yahoo.com>lrick3@yahoo.com Life is a cruise, Larry Rick -- Larry Rick Done Dreamin' Nordhavn 40 #33 Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/Dads%20Web/doneDreamnHome.htm