Return to Raiatea
On July 5, we return to Raiatea. We are beginning to not like Raiatea so much anymore because we are ready to move on. Besides we did not find any easily accessible snorkeling spots. We pick up the shaft alternator and outboard motor. We get diesel, water, some more groceries and try to finish some more repairs. The stove is still not working correctly. It constantly turns off when we are cooking. It is very frustrating for the cook to constantly be relighting the burner. Another Italian sailing couple tell Dario to go to the Mooring's Yacht Charter Company and ask them for spare parts for the stove. Apparently, the Moorings uses Electrolex stoves just like Dario's. He goes there and gets two new injectors. We put these on and it seems to take care of the problem.Dario decides he doesn't want to pay $500 USD to order the rolling furling parts. Remember everything in French Polynesia is more than twice the price of things back home. Without the roller furling, we will be using the 60% jib as a head sail. This means that we will not be sailing as fast as we could with the large genoa roller furling and we won't be able to point upwind very well.
The water pump is still leaking but Dario doesn't think it is a very big leak so we aren't going to get a new pump. Instead we are going to just turn the pump off whenever it isn't needed. The fuel filter needs a new gasket. Dario gets a new one from the Italian couple but it's not the right size. We use it anyway. There is still diesel leaking from the filter but according to Dario, it's a small leak so it will be OK.
As for the refrigeration, a repairman on Bora Bora came out to the boat and filled it with freon and fixed some leaking holes. Now there is a problem with the power to the unit. Since the repairman was pretty drunk and Dario did not have very much confidence in him, Dario sent the repairman on his way. Juan decided to give it a shot. Dario promised him a restaurant meal if he fixes it. He fixes the power problem, but now there is another problem that is just too frustrating for him. The saga to get the fridge in working order is now declared over by Dario. Juan still gets his dinner for his efforts. We have met many sailors who don't have refrigeration. We adjust to this easily.
We still don't have everything perfect but we set sail for Rarotonga on July 8 anyway.