13-Jul-25 18:00 Lefkada 38:22.073N 20:42.744E

Westralia
Steve Coughlan
Sun 13 Jul 2025 18:00

This morning we got the multi meter out and checked circuits. Everything seemed ok. Noted a small switch in the motor control cabinet, flicked it one way and back, there was a 10 second quiet whistle, then the green and amber diodes lit up. Tested the furler switch, everything working again. We then did some grocery shopping, binned the rubbish, filled up dingy tank and weighed anchor at 10am. Set sails asap. The main sail only furled out for a couple of seconds then the furler stopped. This time the breaker did not trip. Opened the motor control box, noted 24v power to the box however the diode lights were off. Meanwhile we continued setting the sails for the course north from Ithici to Lefkada. I used the battery electric drill to manually unfurl the main. I checked the in mast furler motor control box again and this time noted a 2amp fuse had blown, hence the lack of power to the circuit board. I will get a replacement fuse in Lefkada. We made good progress under sail all the way after clearing Vathy. After reaching the channel between Levkas and Meganisi the winds dropped right away, so we launched the dinghy and towed the boat for about 5nm until the winds picked up again and we continued under sail until we approached the marked channel to Lefkada.  After furling the main using the battery drill, we again towed the boat with the dinghy until it ran out of fuel then made the last nautical mile under motor at idle rpm. Tied up stern to at the town quay in Lefkada. Overall we made far more ground (plus 30nm) than I thought we would due to aome good winds in our favour.

Towing Westralia with the dinghy as the cutlass bearing shot. Managed 4 knots at 50% to 70% throttle on the the 25hp Yamah outboard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Coughlan
Executive Chairman
Perth

Level 2 Bravo Building
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Perth Airport WA 6105, Australia
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