Today 0600 early morning of 11 March together with yachties here in SALVADOR on the pontoon and 4 big pumps we saved the yacht Swan Lake from Delaware, to go down, the water just reached the top of the benches.

While pumping the caretaker called the owner to ask where the valves were, but I didn't wait for it as boats in general have same systems, so started feeling underwater where valves were and closed them, also a diver went down with plugs to plug any hole he found as an extra precaution, in case we didn't find one.

Soon the water went down and we found the problem, which was a filter cover in the forward compartment, which due to  grevich corrosion a bolt came off and the lid flipped open with a 1 ½ inch gush of water flowing in.

Although both big bilge pumps where running, they could not cope with the inrush of water, and when the batteries flooded and shorted all out, it went fast.

Skippers should not leave there boats behind with all valves open as a little 8mm bold might sink it, also it can be wise to leave a note where to find all sea inlet and outlet valves for others in his absence to close them, in this kind of emergencies.

My advises where followed at once and saving items and equipment, started while still pumping. The caretaker mobilized extra people, so immediately after we started flushing the interior with fresh water and disassembling alternators and motors to flush them with fresh water, the engine although completely under, appeared not to have flodded, advice was given how to deal with it.

Click on the pictures for enlargement and then right-side picture for more........

Salvador   Brazil   salvage

I just received word from Luuk and Matt, that the Lamada has safely reached Brasil on Februari 15th.
The Lambada is berthed at the Jacaré Marina Club.  This is a little north of Recife.
Internet is bad and radio connection even harder.
Last night the went to the Carnival in Recife.

Brazil   carnival

The Lambada is now on route to the Cape Verde Islands.

After being a year in the Canary Islands, most of the time in Las Palmas there are a few remarks left.

1. sending Mail home goes perfect but receiving is a big problem, even registered mail gets lost, we received a note to collect our AIS Dongle by registered mail at the post office but the mail was missing. Out of the 14 parcels we received only 6, 4 appeared to have been returned, the others where lost, even several ordered through the chandlers got lost. were we the only one ? no no its quit commonly known that mail gets lost confirmed by people living here. It is easier when you are home on holiday to buy and take all as excess baggage with you than you are sure you have it on board and its not much more expensive because you can get your VAT back what pays for the excess baggage.
2. As we stayed in Marina La Luz near Las Palmas a big city with all the pro's and cons every week there was a break in in a boat even a skipper was stabbed because the thief didn't get what he wanted. Part of the reason is that yachties block the gate lock because they are lazy or don't want to request extra keys for €2 at the marina office.
3. Mainly the end of the year when there is a heavy rainfall changes are the bunker oil pits from the oil company Cepsa flow over in the harbor, with the wind north east the oil slick blows to the yacht anchorage. Although Port Authorities are responsible for the harbor they have still not managed to control Cepsa's oil spills and subsequent cleanups, and payment of the oil damage is hard to get, we must pay for the marina and about half for the anchorage, we must be insured so they are, but no return.

Canary Islands review

Oilspil polution in Las Palmas harbour !!!

Lucas just informed me that yesterday the Lambada and 50 to 100 other yachts are heavely poluted by an extreme oilspil of crude oil of a large sea vessel in the harbor of Las Palmas and some yachts of the ARC are also poluted.

The question is - who is going to pay for the clean-up. Lucas called the harbor police but they don't do anything... so he called the Canaries TV company and filed a claim. But he is not very optimistic that anything happens if there is some quick action taken...
He also contacted the Port Control Chairman and Director as well as the Public Relations by email with a claim of 20.000 Euro damage.

Further, he contacted a reporter that speaks very good Spanish and an Airforce luitenant he acqainted.
It is sad that Sydney their dog can't go to shore because everything is poluted with crude oil...
Click images for larger view...

Time for action here folks ! ! !

All visiting yachts: check with Las Palmas yachts before entering the harbour!

UPDATE: Port Authority of Las Palmas letter to the Lambada
RESOLUTION UPDATE: Oil pollution in Marina Las Palmas (inquiry results)

Oilspil polution