After the second evening and until close to midnight we had strong winds. “Strong” means that the first night we had winds of 20 KN with gusts of 25 KN from southern direction; yesterday evening we had winds from northern direction of around 22 KN and gusts of 29 KN. As these wind are not too be seen in the forecasts, they are a local weather phenomenon. MaRe’s anchor holds.

After exchanging the fuel pump, I did also the maintenance of the outboard motor and completed it with a test run not too far away from MaRe. It turned out the outboard motor runs again like before the diaphragm of the fuel pump became perforated at our edge.

Yesterday came the real test. I went to Pape’ete. It took me only 30 min one way at a bit less than half throttle. With the rental motor it took me 45 min because otherwise it overheated.

The new sunscreens are mounted as well. Here I saw again a difference in mentality. Around 6 month ago I contacted this company, sent them pictures of the material and locks I need including rough measures, and ask if they have such material and the needed locks. All I got was, we will look at your boat when you are here. Nobody bothered to check stocks. When I was finally in Tahiti, a guy came on board to look at the sunscreens, did measurements, and told me they can make it. After I made my down payment they contacted me to say they don’t have the material in white only in grey. 6 month after my first inquiry. When the day before yesterday, 2 people came to mount the screens, they had to use the old snap locks because they don’t have new ones on stock anymore. 6 month after my first inquiry.

Because Onan in Switzerland, where my friend Vili inquired immediately, did not have the needed parts on stock and would need to order to the USA, requiring a delivery time of 2 – 3 weeks to CH, I used Skype and ChatGPT I could break the wall with which Onan protects itself being contacted from outside by email. First I reached a dealer in Auckland. Then, in a second attempt I could even break into Onan NZ. I did this second “break” to find out of they have the needed spare parts on stock in NZ. They have all in stock except some screws and washers and they can sell me the parts directly because of the generator model I have. The screws and washers I have on board. So I pushed things through as fast as possible from my side and begged them to dispatch the parts as soon as the payments by credit card is approved. However, they work in their own pace and thus, the parts will go to DHL Express only on Monday… ETA Tahiti on the 20th instead of the 15th. So much about the speed of processing urgently needed spare parts at Onan.

With the plywood I got through Tevai I could built already a new, more stable and a bit higher “leg extender” for the helm station. I also built the 36 mm thick base plate for the seat. Today I will paint these things with linseed oil and then continue with the work at the seat.