The Computer says NO!
Sorry Graham. Not the best days racing I've ever had.
About a mile short of the Needles (outbound) the port motor decided it was time to stop. It seemed the electronic engine management spat it's dummy out.
After about 15 mins or so, and once I'd taken off all me safety clobber, it restarted. We threw everything back on, and got back underway. It ran all the way to Torquay, though I was aware there was something lacking in the performance.
After rounding the marks in Torbay (at a pedestrian 55mph, as that was as quick as it would run following it's hickup) we headed out back into Lyme bay, but as we passed Ore Stone, the motor stopped again, another 20 mins or so wait, and it restarted breifly, but then nowt. The virtual instruments on the control screen were all talking bollox, zero volts, 2.5 bar of oil pressure without the engine running, full scale exhaust temp, zero degrees engine temp, everything right up the shute.
So, 100 miles back from Torquay on one motor, at best 25mph, at worst, knocked off the plane trying to climb the large swell. By the time we got back into the Solent, the remaining running engine was getting very poorly, we think we've probably burned a wastegate out with it struggling for 4 hours labouring at 3000rpm. Result, from Hurst castle to Cowes (about 13 miles), off plane!
A huge thanks to the Hunton safety boat
'Xtreme' who escorted us back to Cowes @ an mindnumbing 8mph.
All in all, 8 hours at sea and a complete waste of time, effort & money.