The usual January Jervis Bay family cruise had been interrupted, so I prepared Malua for a shorter school-holiday trip. Food was aboard, sails were ready and I intended to move to the fuel dock before departing at dawn.
Water in the forward tank
When I changed the fuel supply to the forward tank, the engine stopped almost immediately. The fuel filter showed water. I drew samples from both tanks: the aft tank was clear, while several litres of water came out of the forward tank before diesel flowed. I could not safely use that tank until the system was cleared.
I switched to the aft tank, changed the primary and secondary filters, drained the fuel lines and restarted the Yanmar. After fuelling cautiously, I left at dawn the next day. Light wind made it mostly a motor-sail to Jervis Bay. I arrived about 9 pm, anchored when the moorings were full, and moved to a mooring before the family came aboard.