Blog 21. At sea, 05.30.35S 98.19.26W

Alcedo
David Batten
Sun 6 Mar 2016 13:05
Sunday, 6/03/16. Quite forgot to say in previous blogs that we set off on this marathon sail with two of the crew well below par. The Ship's Boy suffered for 24 hours while we were on the Aida Maria and this time it was Jane and Anthony needing to be near the heads before taking to their beds and sleeping for nearly 24 hours. We all agreed that we should start on time and that Skipper and Wife and Ship's Boy would do 3 hour watches while the other two slept, which they did. Happily, all are well again now and going to sea was a good decision. Skipper and wife are keeping their fingers crossed and not quite walking around with face masks and alcohol gel, but very nearly!

Yesterday was another day of engine off, engine on, with some good sailing when the wind obliged. Just after lunch and much to our surprise, not only was there a fish on the line but, with engine off, we were going slowly enough for the male members of crew to get it on board safely. Huge excitement, it was a very nice Dorado and the perfect size for two suppers. We celebrated achieving 2500 miles to go and the magic latitude of 05.00S with Caiperinas all round for the social half hour at 6.30 and then enjoyed a very good fish supper cooked by the Ship's Boy.

We have now been sailing for over 6 hours, with the wind from S to SSE to SE and boat speeds of 7 to 10 knots, so we may really be in the trade winds at last, but we shall see. The nearest boat to us is Two Fish, some 33 nm away and the boats are all quite well spread out now, so we can only hear Two Fish, Mearra Nieida, Blue Summit, Into The Blue, Aliena, Wishanger and Paradise Found on the SSB. It's a very big ocean with nothing but sea and sky and the odd Boobie, yes it was definitely a Red Footed Boobie and Tropic Bird for company.

Alcedo
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Sent from my iPad