Winter Work 3

 

Stargazer's domestic battery bank died, off the Cap de la Hague, as we emerged from the Alderney Race at dusk.

Fortunately, the engine start battery remained live. Enabling us to sail into Cherbourg, with Stargazer's navigation lights, chart plotter and autopilot powered directly off the alternator, with the Yanmar on tickover.

There, Stargazer's skipper was able to source direct replacements. It was only once we arrived home, to Kent, with access to the receipts file, that it became clear that the failed batteries were almost ten years old. One iteration, of our five yearly battery replacement cycle, had clearly been missed. During the disruptions of the pandemic lockdowns.

In order to increase Stargazer's off-grid independence, her domestic bank has long been expanded, from two to three batteries, through the inclusion of the original engine start battery. The Yanmar is started using an Odyssey Extreme, originally designed to fire up high-compression race cars. Although of compact dimensions, it delivers unusually high cranking power. 

It is however a specialist item. I was unable to track down a French supplier. Whilst Brexit border buffoonery prevented shipment by a UK supplier. The completion of Stargazer's belated battery replacement cycle had, therefore, to wait until our return home. Each battery indelibly marked with its installation date, this time around.