Year 3 -20 March 2026 - Stormbird What a Day-PHEW! Kochi - India

I was up early when it was cool and started work at about 7.00am taking my tea on deck. It was quiet and cool and just the odd fishing canoe about.

I spent the next hour and a half polishing all the chrome of which there is quite a lot. I decided to leave the polish on and to polish it off later.

I therefore had breakfast of pineapple and granola etc but had now used up the last of my yoghurt.

As the fuel people were coming in the afternoon I got out and rigged up my fuel pump system. This a 12v pump with a tube fitted one end which you put into a jerry can and then at the other end is a pipe with a fuel nozzle of the type you get in petrol stations which you then can control and fill the tank or filter. I have used it several times and has been a good buy but it is a messy job. I also got out my special filter which prevents water and other contaminants getting into the tanks. I got it all ready and covered it with a sheet.

Binu (the engineer) came at 9.00am and looked at the engine start battery. I am not sure how old it is but it was reading 12.3v. We tried to start the engine but it was too weak so we started using the emergency system and then he tested it and it was being charged by the engine. We then having stopped the engine checked whether it was being charged by the mains and it was not. I had not realised that so that if you do not use the engine start battery for some time it could slowly lose its charge so you need to charge it. It could just need a good charge and it will be fine. However, it would not be sensible to rely on a battery you do not know how old it is for the miles I need to make to get back to the UK. The sensible thing was to replace it as I am here. Binu will bring a new one this afternoon.

Varghese came with the upholstery man. I had in fact prepared for his arrival with removing the net screen on the starboard side of the doghouse. He had brought some webbing and his own sowing machine which looked like it had been built in the late 19th century and the electric wire had been repaired several times. As his plug did not fit Stormbird he went to the nearest building and did the sowing there using his foot on a pedal to turn on the machine. He did a good job of repairing and supporting the netting. He also changed the position of some of the poppers on the starboard seat at the rear and put on the support rest on the aft chrome. The whole lot including materials was £48 and he had been to visit 3 times. Some things can be very reasonable here.

By this time it was 11.30am and I had the fuel people with a barge wanting to come at 2.30pm and the battery man to come back about the same time. I also wanted to replace the fuel in my outboard tanks and needed to dispose of the old. Varghese said he would take it for his scooter.

I should say at this stage that the day I had my cyst removed I had noticed a lump in my right armpit after I had got back to the boat. I assumed it was a little infection and that it would go in time. However, it had come more painful over the last 2 days. I therefore decided, as I was registered, I would go back to the same hospital to get it checked out as that is the sensible and right thing to do. Varghese rang and said they could see me at 3.30pm. Otherwise we could go and wait and see. I knew I needed to get this looked at as health is more important and the fuel and battery guys could come another day. You never know it might still all work so we decided to go as soon as we could and see what happens.

We therefore jumped in the car and dropped off the old fuel at Varghese’s house who had a large rottweiler in a caged area. It went a bit mad when it saw me as it does not like strangers. Varghese said he does not take him out as he cannot control him. I was just glad it did not escape.

We then went to the hospital and I checked in and wanted to see the same Dr as who dealt with the cyst. We arrived at 12.01pm and when I got to Dermatology they said it would probably be 2-2.30pm before I could be seen. I explained to the lady I had an appointment at 3.00pm and if I could be seen earlier then I would really appreciate it. I am sure everyone says this but with a smile and an Indian roll of the head she said she would try. I messaged the fuel and battery people to ask could they come at 4.00pm explaining where I was and I would let them know timings etc.

In fact I was seen about 1.45pm and the Dr said it was an infection but not large enough to drain. She wanted to see me in 5 days and would give me antibiotics and if it got worse to come back. Like last time I went to the pharmacy and they got everything ready and so we left at about 2.20pm. This was about 2hrs and 15 minutes since I had walked in and it is an impressive system and works very well. I let the fuel and battery people know.

We tried to get some petrol on the way back but the grade I wanted was not available at the stations we stopped at. I arrived back at the boat at 3.00pm and was just moving fenders over to the port side in preparation when the fuel people arrived and tied up alongside. It was a sort of motor launch, pilot type boat and they had brought 6x 50 Ltr drums.

One by one we pumped into the port tank and by the end I was concerned that the tank would overflow but it did not. Perhaps I should have got more but it is difficult to judge from the dials. As we were finishing the battery man came. The fuel guys left and as always there is spilt fuel and mess on deck. That can be sorted later.

I had to help carry the new battery to the boat and together we got the old one out and put the new one in. We then tested it and it did start the engine and then began to charge. We did the same with the generator. He advised say once a week of you are not using the engine or generator to give it a little charge. Most of the time when you are moving you are using the engine or generator on a regular basis and so it is not an issue. He had also brought me some more distilled water.

I had pondered whether to get the diesel I did because it was expensive and I had to pay for the barge etc. However, with the Middle East situation, and talks of fuel rationing in the Maldives I would have been a fool to leave India without full tanks. Although by this stage (5.30pm) I was a bit knackered I decided to put my spare diesel I had in jerry cans in the lazarette into the tanks and see how much they would take. The port tank (as I has pumped into the main starboard tank which was full) took another 50 lts before it was full. I put the extra 10 into the starboard tank. Therefore both tanks are now full and I therefore contacted the agent to see if I could fill the 3 jerry cans I had used with diesel so I have everything I can take. It was getting dark by now and repacked the lazarette.

The deck was slippery and had diesel all around the filling caps. The last thing I wanted to do was clean it but it would not be good to leave it overnight. I therefore in the dark packed the fuel pump away and stored that in its usual place. I put the filter to dry overnight.

I then set about cleaning the deck. The best way to do this with diesel is washing up liquid and kitchen paper. Water makes it worse and spreads. So bit by bit it cleans up nicely and I fished at 7.30pm – a 12.5 hour day.

I had a shower and then a cold beer. I think I had earnt it. I then made an easy salad and relaxed in front of the fan. I then watched a film to relax. It had been a long and fulfilling day – PHEW. This round the world stuff is not plain sailing and sitting down having sundowners all the time. There is quite a bit of input required to keep everything moving and working. It is hard graft sometimes and you just have to knuckle down and do it.

The picture of today is the fuel guys saying goodbye.

Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK.

I am looking for one crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town (mid June to end of July). If of any interest do email me.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com