{"id":7668,"date":"2026-09-22T15:00:50","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T13:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailing-bluewave.ch\/?p=7668"},"modified":"2026-09-22T15:34:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T13:34:31","slug":"segleralltag-spaetsommerlicher-sonnenschein-entdeckerlust-und-seglerfrust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailing-bluewave.ch\/en\/segleralltag-spaetsommerlicher-sonnenschein-entdeckerlust-und-seglerfrust\/","title":{"rendered":"A sailor\u2019s daily life: late-summer sunshine, a thirst for discovery and the frustrations of sailing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"default-logo\"\/\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

A sailor\u2019s daily life: late-summer sunshine, a thirst for discovery and the frustrations of sailing<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The story of a bumpy start with our broken engine and the infinity pool<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Text: Christian \/ Pictures & short films: Carola<\/p>

We\u2019re back on our boat. The summer break is over and we\u2019re already making plans for the next leg of our journey.<\/p>

Whilst we were away, the shaft bearing on our propeller shaft was replaced, following the incident where a line got caught in the propeller during our crossing from Mallorca to the mainland. Now it\u2019s time to clean the boat, stock up on provisions and say goodbye to our lovely jetty neighbours. We don\u2019t have much time, as we\u2019d like to set sail in just a few days\u2019 time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Freshly polished, it beams at us as we arrive<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Just among Spaniards \u2013 an invitation to a barbecue<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Our order has arrived. A different sort of provisioning. Delivered right to the boat \u2013 what a service.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A surprise visit from Christina and Karsten with their boys<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Evening mood\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A bumpy start<\/strong><\/p>

On 31 August, we\u2019ll be setting sail, with mixed feelings. On the one hand, we\u2019re looking forward to new experiences; on the other, it\u2019s not easy for us to say goodbye to the boat neighbours we\u2019ve grown fond of.<\/p>

We\u2019re heading south-west, along the coast. We plan to spend the night south of Tarragona, at anchor off the coast. However, the wind is dying down and we\u2019re making slow progress. After a while, we have to start the engine, so we\u2019re travelling along the coast at around five to six knots.<\/p>

After three hours, I take a peek from behind through the rear hatch into the engine compartment and check the shaft seal. Everything looks fine: there\u2019s no water or oil on the paper I\u2019ve laid out beneath the gearbox. I shine my torch further under the engine and something catches the light.<\/p>

On closer inspection, I spot some water there. I open the stairwell hatch at the front and see the culprit: the coolant pump is leaking salt water.<\/p>

I clean up the water and place a sponge with a drip tray underneath. First aid has been administered. We carry on under engine power, as the wind is too light for us to reach our planned anchorage before dark whilst travelling at a slow pace.<\/p>

It seems we\u2019ll have no choice but to repair the faulty pump. Who knows how much longer we can carry on like this? La R\u00e0pita, further south-west in the Ebro Delta, with its large marina, seems to us to be a suitable place for this.<\/p>

So we decide to extend today\u2019s leg a little and look for a place to anchor in the northern part of the delta. We should just about manage that under engine power until sunset.<\/p>

We carry on driving, and I set the timer on my watch to 20 minutes so that I can mop up the spilling water at regular intervals.<\/p>

My phone rings. It\u2019s Micha, our former sailing instructor. He\u2019s seen Caro\u2019s Instagram post showing our leaking water pump. \u201cWelcome to the club,\u201d I hear through the speaker. He says he\u2019s been through it all before. The seal behind the impeller is probably faulty. Despite the leaking pump, though, we should still be able to carry on a bit further for now.<\/p>

We gratefully accept these words. They reassure us and give us confidence. Thank you, Micha!<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t