Beaufort, NC to Brunswick, GA

We used to enjoy playing the game Whack-a-Mole with our kids at Ryan’s Arcade in Newport, RI. We don’t enjoy playing it with Breeze On’s engine problems. The good news is that we made the entire trip from Beaufort to Brunswick without the overheating engine alarm sounding once. The bad news is that we now have a new engine problem. Yesterday afternoon we noticed the odor of diesel fuel in our cockpit. It was definitely the smell of fuel and not exhaust. George looked around the areas of the engine that are most likely to have a fuel leak and found three out of four of the injectors were leaking fuel. The reason the odor was so strong in the cockpit—instead of the cabin—is because the blower moves air from the engine compartment to the cockpit. 

After arriving at Brunswick Landing this afternoon we spoke to the manager of the boatyard at the far end of the marina. He gave us a few ideas but said he is scheduling work two months out. We then looked into what parts we might need so they could be ordered to arrive here before we are set to leave on Friday. The marina is full and there are no guarantees that our stay can be extended. 

The injectors had been removed, sent to be tested and cleaned, then replaced by our local boatyard this summer. We are thinking that they either weren’t tightened enough when they were replaced or that the seals need to be replaced. George left a message with our boatyard and is hoping to get some ideas from them. 

If it hadn’t been for the new engine problems, our passage was a good one. The conditions were wonderful for sailing during the first 12 hours. The sea state was quite comfortable as well. After 12 hours the wind dropped and we had to turn the engine on for all but one of the remaining 42 hours of the trip. 

The black arrow points to the diesel fuel bubbling from the injector. That injector and two others also have fuel dripping from the top. 

Yesterday’s sunset. Notice how calm the water is. 





George also noticed this contrail which he believes is from a Space X rocket that had launched from Cape Canaveral. Unfortunately, he did not see the rocket.