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Dec 30, 2006: Off to Cape Verde!

22°C / 72°F

Position:29° 2′ 56″ N-13° 37′ 12″ W

Wind: 10km/h

Today, after sunrise, on Saint Silvester's Day, we started for the next stretch of our journey. Our technical equipment is in best shape again. The crew is fine.

Yesterday, the crew was preparing the departure while friends of ours kindly offered  to pick up solar technology specialist Stephan Leutenegger at the airport of Arrecife. He arrived at noon and started immediately to evaluate the solar system together with crew member Mark Wuest.
The charging system was checked completely. Two chips had not been able to handle the energy flow and were found burnt. They were replaced by newly programmed "prints". The charge display system is now designed in a way that it cannot overheat anymore.
Stephan and Mark found out that, under certain conditions, static energies had built up in the solar pannels. This phenomenon had disturbed the regular function of the battery charge indicator and diminished the charging process on the right side of the boat.
In order to avoid further impact of these static energies, a grounding system through the aluminum structure of the boat was installed.
Neverheless, Mark's former modifications to improve the charging capacity were successful and approved by the specialist. According to the measurements of the last seven travel days, the charging capacity will now increase even to a higher level .
Off to Cape Verde!

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