Half way and how big was that fish
We passed the approximate half way point this morning at about 07.30. I say approximate because I set a route quite a few hours off the W end of St Miguel island. But seeing the distance run (about 611nm at 14.00) go above the distance to Lizard (now 533) cross over was another good moment! But a bit like climbing Everest I suppose, getting to the top is only part of the struggle! We are powering along – still under spinnaker and hoping the guy holds out (it was showing signs of chafe when I checked it in PD) and that the spinnaker holds on! On the weather I looked at this morning the wind will gradually veer west – it has already gone round to SW from SSW. Robert and I have been discussing when to gybe all day – and I see Bliss has just gybed now. I think we will gybe as well when this wind veers a little more. I am pretty certain we have passed the calm patch that might have caught up with us. Great excitement and incredible reactions from Robert when we hooked a fish earlier with that scream of the reel running out! Robert got there in time but it broke the line, so let me tell you how big it was….!! Half the size of Finley I reckon………..! We decided to change the line on the reel, so we took the old line off using my little old hand drill and a wooden spoon and a discarded reel of twine! Ingenious! New line is 50Lb so bring it on Mr Tuna! (Actually if we catch one, I hope it is only 20lbs - what would I do with all that fish??!! Fridge would have to become a freezer!) It is another glorious sunny afternoon, bowling along at about 7kts in about 16 – 17kts true breeze from SSW. Forecast looks like that sort of breeze will hold for some time. No one apart from Bliss out here and I suspect we will lose her now. There was a motor boat that passed us heading SE at dusk last night – not a fishing boat but a cruising or survey ship perhaps. Either way they did not respond on VHF but missed us by about half a mile. All well on board and we have both caught up a little on sleep, but Robert could do with a few hours good nap! Love to all! Tim |