I recently had problems with my saildrive gearbox, had the boat pulled out of the water, Gearbox replaced and the refitted, a week prior to doing the Intelegence Telecoms East London - Port Elizabeth Yacht Race single Handed.
Last Year I won this event with line honours single handed.
This year I was not so lucky.
The motor had been wired incorrectly causing electrolosis to be severe, I lost my propellor motoring off moorings, and during the night with all my power being drained by the electrolisis eating away at the gearbox, I lost all navigation, and power to my Raymarine SI tiller pilot.
It was a nightmare. Winds were light and frustratng, and after 40 hours guessing where I was I started nodding off, only to wake suddenly a few seconds later, seeing people on deck (Mind tricks of the exhausted)
I finnished the Race in 43 hours, still taking the Single Handed trophy, but only comming 4th in line honours.
If anyone has a Wind Vane the feel they are willing to sponsor a single handed racer, please let me know, as my next race is the Govenors Cup, Cape town to St Helena. Aproximately 8-9 days sailing halfway accross the Atlantic ocean. I know I will not be able to stay awake for that amount of time and realy need one.