Apparently the belt was loose, and had been slipping, accounting for his poor charging performance, and also filling the engine compartment with powered belt. The range and deviousness of the spectrum of problems which one must solve is amazing. Everyone seems to be really happy. We are starting to get warm sunshine and dependable winds, and the net is alive with friendly banter, with the racers trading spinnaker tricks, recipes, and war stories. Things are different offshore, more than you might ever dream possible as you slug your way through a traffic jam on the way to a stressful day in the salt mines.
Small things become large and priorities change.
Winning and losing seem less important, somehow, although each of us relishes a few miles gained on a competitor and much hoopla is made about minor misfortunes which slow them down. Losing a few miles is cause to run on deck and throw up more sail or tweak what is there. Yet in spite of the friendly competition, or perhaps because of it, deeper bonds are being formed. This is not to say that we have been cast into some philosophical wonderland of touchy-feely sensitivity. Life at sea is rather pithy, and there is nothing like a shot of seawater down your pantleg to recall you to sober reality.