Tomorrow morning we’re making an unscheduled stop at Manihi, because we have taken damage on the steering system. The hydraulic autopilot (which was replacing the original autopilot that broke down on the way to the Marquesas) has broken the steering system. So now we have a jury-rigged autopilot with the emergency tiller on the stern deck. Steering the ship manually is now an old fashioned undertaking while sitting at an actual helm and the autopilot needs re-attachment with improvised ropes.

No worries, we’re under complete control. Since we’re arriving on an atoll tomorrow morning this shouldn’t give too many problems. It’s going to be a logistical challenge now though, because we’re supposed to pick up Boukje in Tahiti and we’re in need of a welding shop… I guess we’ll have to figure that out when we arrive.