[p] Vanuatu
[pos] 35 83.80s 174 46.91e
[s] Now tied up in Marsden Cove Marina - an uneventful motor sail down the Northland coast saw us arriving at the Q dock at 12 noon. Customs and MPI very friendly and efficiently dealt with us in about 20 minutes - then a quick trip to the fuel dock before the final leg to GH - or so we thought....
Just 5m from the dock there was smoke pouring out of the boat - we drifted in with fire extinguishers at the ready - very calm and collected under pressure this wonderful crew.
A full afternoon of analysis concluded that the starter motor had caught in the ring gear and burned out. So we are here for repairs and will make the final leg of the journey in due course.
Cannot believe how lucky we were with the timing of that....all sorts of repercussions, had it happened at any other moment.

[END]