Two steps forward, no steps back

Not the best morning. Was still furious with the ineptitude of the agent last night, woke up with the trots, the bilge pumps are not working (I shifted 10 buckets of grot from the bottom of the boat yesterday and Gordy shifted another 7 this morning), the domestic battery bank was completely flat again (and everything was off overnight), and the generator has started to leak fuel when running, so the boat smelt like an oil refinery. Everything seems to be falling apart; the toilet flush hasn't worked on the forward toilet for days and the other toilet now seems to be recycling content rather than removing it. The pump to empty the holding tank (toilet contents and cause of the insane stink that recurs every few days) isn't working and, most importantly, neither the automatic nor the switched bilge pumps are working, so the boat is steadily sinking. All in, I'd had better mornings.

After setting off, it seemed pretty calm, so we had a chat and decided to push for Hurghada straight away. It was the right decision because we were most of the way across before the swell and wind cut in. The last hour required a bit of work but it was still short of yesterday's conditions.

As we got close to Hurghada the holding tank pump finally kicked into life, removing the stench and improving morale. My current working theory is that the pumps (bilge, holding tank, toilet, etc.) all work off the domestic supply, so if that's completely flat, even with the engine alternator running, there's insufficient current available to run the pumps. With Craig gone, none of us have the skills to sort it. I asked the agent for an electrician yesterday morning but the chap he came up with was a halfwit who knew less than me. Then we had some help from an Israeli fella on a nearby boat but he never really had sufficient time because we were keen to get away. I'm hoping the marina will come up with a competent electrician tomorrow morning, but I'm prepared to leave without a fix. We're on shore power now so the batteries are finally getting some sustained help.

Hurghada Marina is ace. Professional, clean, supportive and great surroundings, so morale took an instant boost. We were in and sorted with the marina before the agent knew we had arrived, so he was immediately on the back foot. I knew the price of the mooring and the price of fuel. I'd also got the marina manager onto sourcing fuel barrels. The agent wasn't best pleased and arrived for a meeting on the boat. It was the sweetest part of the day for me. A Harrier Weapons Instructor debrief on the performance of Felix agency to date, followed by the dismissal of their services. It's possible that I'm taking on more risk but I feel that a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. They don't seem to have any expertise and every time I talk to them they're after more money.

We were able to wash all of the salt off the boat in the afternoon and get things generally cleaned up. Followed by a shower, shopping for a replacement boat hook and dinner, all is well with the world once again. Tomorrow I hope to find a competent electrician and sort out a plan for the final 2, exceptionally long, legs.