Since we were still having to motor today, given the complete lack of wind, resulting in a “lake-like” calm sea-state, we decided to polish all the dirty diesel we got in Uligamu, while also running the watermaker to top up our water tanks.

The fuel polishing exercise became quite a mission, though; first Roy had to disconnect the automatic fuel polishing system on the starboard engine, then repipe two new, longer input and output pipes, where the input pipe was inserted into a jerry can of dirty fuel and the output pipe fed into a clean jerry can, effectively filtering dirty fuel through the filter to produce clean fuel once the pump was engaged. This process was repeated for all 13 jerry cans of dirty fuel using a 2 micron filter. The dregs of the dirt remaining at the bottom of each can was then added to a spare jerry can for disposal.

What a palaver, but thankfully we had installed these fuel polishing systems on each engine in Penang, Malaysia, otherwise we would definitely have been up the preverbal creek.

After six hours we had clean fuel, full water tanks, both engines had been checked and topped up with oil and we had clean saloon windows, the latter having become caked with sea spray. Oh the joys of a simple life; fuel, water and clean windows! Throw in an advantageous current of 2.5 Kts, providing a magic carpet ride, another delicious homemade chicken soup with freshly made soda bread for dinner and we were happy bunnies!