Najad 373 `Pan Pan’ call

Several months ago Christine and I were sailing our Najad 373 off the Algarve coast in Portugal. In fact, we were about 5 miles offshore motor sailing close-hauled from Faro to Lagos when the emergency bilge pump switched on. My bilges are normally dry and it was alarming to see about 3 inches of water apparently filling the bilge! Naturally, I tried to ascertain where the water was coming from as there are no obvious inlets and by now two bilge pumps were only just managing to keep pace with the inflow. I put out a `Pan Pan call’ on VHF ch 16 which was immediately answered by the MRCC in Lisbon (about 120 miles away).

Although I did not request assistance two ribs, one from the Maritime Police and one from Faro Rescue services, were alongside within 30 minutes. I continued to seek the source of the water leak into the bilge which was now about 6 inches deep. I even alerted Vilamoura marina for an emergency liftout ( at about 4.00pm on a Friday evening!). Fortunately, I did then manage to ascertain where the water was coming from – the syphon break on the swan-neck of the sea water engine cooling system. The syphon valve had jammed open due probably to a grain of sand or something similar and the water was emptying via a venting hose into the small bilge next to the engine compartment. With the heel of the yacht this water was then running up the side of the hull and then emptying into the main bilge at the rate of a normal open tap! I put a wooden bung in the hose and immediately `the leak’ stopped. The two rescue ribs continued to stand-by until I was safely in Vilamoura Marina.

Lessons Learned: I was extremely impressed by the Portuguese safety system. My `Pan Pan’ radio call was automatically relayed along the coast approximately 150 miles and dealt with professionally, in excellent English by the Portuguese MRCC. The response from nearby safety ribs was fantastic and if things had become serious I was confident that they would have been able to effect a safe, straightforward rescue. I have now fitted a new Vetus anti-syphon valve, which although expensive, is working well. I now regularly check this for any leakage or dripping.