Well, we are almost over the line! It's taken a while to get this far, dodging cyclones, making boat repairs in remote locations, and dealing with all the hiccups and issues that inevitably pop their heads up on trips like this. It's a testament to the resilience of both the crew and the boat (and the skipper's ability to MacGyver solutions!).
To give you an idea of how close we are to the end of our resources, I'm down to less than 10 cable ties and probably less than two meters of duct tape! So its pretty tight. And I've got just enough oil left for maybe one more gearbox oil change. I did the starboard one last night, and that gave me enough confidence to increase the RPMs by a few hundred. I'll do the port one shortly, top off the starboard one with the last of the heavy gear oil, and that should get us up the river.
I'm no expert on emulsified oil or sail drives, but it seems like the oil still has a lot of its lubricating properties. The sail drives aren't running hot and aren't being driven hard, so I'm thinking that with a good rinse out, they'll be as good as "new." Which, coincidentally, isn't really an issue for this boat, as both the engines are being replaced next month anyway. So, we're just nursing them to the finish line.
Last time we were in Port Vila at this time of year on another delivery, we had similar issues with things breaking down and trying to get them fixed. And then, to top it all off, we got hit with two category 4 cyclones in three days (Kevin and Judy)! So, all things considered, we got away lightly this time.
It's a strange feeling, this mix of relief and accomplishment as you near the end of a long passage. You're eager to arrive, but there's also a sense of having conquered something. And in this case, we've definitely conquered a few challenges along the way!
I was trying to have a relaxing last night at sea!