Live Update: Stuck in Mindelo for a bit (Patreon)

Ahoy guys! 

In the last live update, I mentioned our steering issue. The good news is we found a machine shop here, and they made a new bearing for us. Steering is much better now, BUT...there is always a 'but' ;) While I fitted the new bearing, I noticed a drop of oil from our autopilot drive unit. We have a spare unit on the boat, but fitting that will leave us without a working spare. We have three units aboard the boat - one working and two broken. Mark will fly home (to the UK) with our two broken units. The manufacturer will refurbish the units and also tell us what went wrong. They have seen the installation aboard Athena and told us there is nothing wrong with it (it's within spec). Yet we have two broken drive units. One unit broke after 1500 miles (this summer). I think the first unit had something wrong with it from the factory (there was always a lot of resistance moving the piston rod). Our steering issue may have damaged the second unit - I don't know. Hopefully, the manufacturer can shed some light on the mystery :)  

The big upside to this situation is that Ava will now get to come on the crossing (she'll pick up the refurbished units on her way here)! Another upside is that I can install our air conditioning before we're somewhere we will need it. Meaning I get to install it at a comfortable temperature rather than as a sweaty burning hot mess :) The way it's looking now, Ava will fly out in about two weeks.

I'll return with another live update when I start the AC installation. Julian is flying out tomorrow, and Mark is flying out the day after tomorrow.