Year 3 -25 April 2026 – Himmufushi -North Male Atoll – Maldives – another treading water day.
I woke about 7.00am and the rain had started. It was a good job I woke then and I went round closing hatches. The rain continued for a couple of hours which meant it was a bit cooler and the deck had a good wash. We had breakfast and then I made a loaf of bread which turned out quite nicely and I also did some more research on South Africa and the ports there.
I wanted to drop the gas cylinder off at the ferry but the agent said no one could meet it today. Keith was up and feeling a bit better and he decided to rest and drink lots of water.
I had been in touch with the guys with the windlass motor and they said it should be ready by 2.00pm. Apparently the bearing on the motor needed replacing and I do not know why they did not do it last time. I charged the batteries and was getting used to when to charge until we switch them over again. Carolyn, Joyce and I went ashore for some lunch. We went to the local and I had quite a spicy Chicken Biryani. I had been in contact with Thaleem and he said he would get the 2.30pm ferry if he could. He had been to the motor place and all was good. He had everything to bring back.
After lunch we wandered around the shops and found a shop which has some good frozen chicken so we got it as well as some butter which went in the freezer. This will reduce the amount we need to get in Male when we do the big shop.
We returned to Stormbird and then I went to collect Thaleem from the 3.00pm ferry. When he arrived with all the bits he of course wanted a coffee, two cigarettes and some water before he could start.
We then returned to Stormbird and prepared the area of the windlass on deck getting rid of the old sealant. The outside bottom and pole went through with the prongs inside and Thaleem sealed and glued this with sealant. He then showed me the main part of the windlass which the motor attaches to and with the new bearings etc he could put his finger in and turn the internal workings easily. We then attached that inside to the prongs from the top. Before we put it in we filled the cylinder with SAE 90 oil and with the new seals there was no leakage. This was all assembled and tightened up and we then fitted the motor and wired it up. The moment of truth had arrived. I turned the windlass on and went to use the buttons on deck and it went click and the switch turned itself off as it was doing before. We checked the mechanism and wiring and the same thing occurred again. We checked nothing was jammed inside and Thaleem then checked the switch. He traced the wiring to a control box at the back of the locker and he thought the electrical problem was this box. I wondered whether they had repaired the motor properly and there was still a problem there. I was up and down getting things and going inside and outside the boat as we did all the checks and trying of the windlass.
Thaleem was able to bypass this box and then using some wire he was able get the motor going and the windlass turned well. The problem was this control box as well as bearing problems and one could have caused the other. Despite this it was good that the windlass had been properly serviced with new bearings etc. He said he would take it to Male to repair or make another one. We fitted the rest of the windlass and then sealed the outside parts. By this time it was 7.15pm so I took him ashore and we will have to fix it finally tomorrow I hope.
Keith had felt hot again and basically rested in bed most of the afternoon and he was not hungry but drank a lot of water. Carolyn had made a vegetable curry and they had started supper by the time I returned. It was another frustrating day but I hope we are nearing the end of and the cause of the windlass issues.
The picture of today is a view of Himmafushi which we are getting to know quite well now.
Need/Opportunity Year Three
I will be going shortly from India to the Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK.
I am currently full which is great but if things change I will make this clear.
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