February 24, 2024
I arrived at Marina Club de Pesca in Cartagena, where BEHEMOTH resides, seven days ago. Even though this is not a sailing vacation, I have enjoyed my time here. During the day, BEHEMOTH has usually several people on board involved in different jobs; engine, generator, electricity, refrigeration to name a few. I too brought work with me and there are virtual meetings I have to attend. But just before sunset everybody is gone, clients in Europe are sleeping, and I can enjoy some time alone, starting with a G&T by the bow. BEHEMOTH has the perfect spot for this (see pics).
I’ve been to the old city a couple of times and to one of the restaurants at the marina, but otherwise I cook spartan dinners on-board, suitable for my ongoing anti LDL diet. Courtesy of Starkink, I’ve watched a couple of good movies (Eileen and The Holdovers), and I’m slowly digesting a new book about life (How Life Works by Philip Ball). I usually hit my bunk before 9pm.
For BEHEMOTH the main achievement has been having a working engine. When I arrived last Saturday, they were just mounting the blue monster. By Monday it started but there were issues with the electric fuel pump; not the engine’s pump but another pump that sends fuel both to the generator and the diesel. It had to be replaced and the electrical connections rewired. The tachometer and voltage indicators were also not working, and the alternator wasn’t charging the batteries.
On Thursday, for the first time since I own BEHEMOTH, we were able to motor out of the slip, dock by diesel pumps and fill-in the tanks, then motor around the anchorage testing the transmission. Things seemed to be working well, except that I forgot to fix the rudder of the Pacific Plus (the wind vane) at the center line. Without us noticing it turned 90 degrees creating considerable drag. In addition, at low RPMs, under gear, the engine would stall. This happened several times while motoring around the anchorage and one last time when trying to come back to the slip — with the Pacific Plus’ rudder severely compromising my ability to steer. Thankfully, the guys at the dock had already our lines and they pulled us alongside, not without effort. I don’t want to offend BEHEMOTH, but she is rather heavy, and we had 15-20 Kts of wind.
Glitches have been fixed. The tachometer and all the other indicators in the panel are working, the engine settles nicely at 500 RPMs in neutral or in gear, and the alternator sends the right amount of juice to the batteries.
The fridge and freezer are also working properly. I have mentioned before they are really “accumulators,” which I think is a fantastic system. I keep them on all day, but they take a break on their own once the temperature is low enough. They probably operate 2-3 hours during a 24h period. This means that while not connected to shore-power the generator would have to run for this long to keep things cold or frozen. The two beautiful, vintage, temperature gauges will help decide when to crank it.
On the other hand, progress with the generator, the red monster, has been slow. It was mounted on Wednesday and since then the mechanics have been connecting different hoses and belts. They’re here now and just told me it won’t start today either; the electrician needs to come to connect the starter motor.
Regardless, Monday I’m going sailing with a crew. It will be Alexander, Luis and Nicolas – the three mousquetaires in charge of the engine–, and Hector. Beyond testing one more time the engine, the main goal is to sail BEHEMOTH in different wind angles and with all sails up, and test the autopilot and the Pacific Plus (both still don’t have a name). I will report back.
It’s quite pleasant here in the main cabin with the VORNADO on. I don’t have ambitious plans for the day. I need to fold some laundry washed yesterday in one of the machines at the marina. I also want to have all sails and lines ready to go. Otherwise, at 2pm I have a reservation for lunch at Buena Vida in the old city. I like their Negroni and plan to order one.
Sailing to the Pacific 