Chapter 4 Still Marquesas Bound
Ariel
Wed 31 May 2006 05:09
Wednesday night May 17
We are travelling along in light winds,still doing better than 5 knots
though,hoping for better conditions tomorrow so we can beat the magic 20 day
barrier to Marquesas.The last two days have been 177nm and 170nm, which is
quite exceptional. I don't think we have had a day under 150nm, as we are
being pushed along by a healthy west bound current and at times quite
reasonable winds.
The highlight of today was a large yacht on the horizon which we hoped to
catch up to, to say hello as I think we must be all looking forward to a
change of company.But alas, they were too quick for us and after about four
hours slipped out of view.So there is really not a lot happening, even in
the fishing department,we keep having the lines broken by over zealous fish
or they somehow manage to slip the hook.we even managed to get a Mahi Mahi
onto the swim platform at the rear of the boat, but he somehow got the hook
out of his mouth and off he went! So we are getting close, we just need to
refine our technique.
Friday 19th, May
Still travelling along at good speed with a 10 to 12 knot ESE breeze,with
just the spinnaker and genoa flying off the front of the boat.We are
consistently doing 7 to just over 8 knots, so we are all hoping this
continues right to Marquesas.We are also being aided by the west flowing
current of about 1.5 knots.
The big news yesterday was that we finally caught our long awaited fish.(a
Mahi Mahi,Wahoo Wahoo or Dolphin fish by which it is known.) It was a
reasonable size about 40 cm, so made a good snack for dinner.We are hoping
that it doesn't take us another 3000nm to catch the next one! We now have
the taste for fresh fish as a very pleasant break from our improvised
meals,which have been nevertheless very good, due entirely to some talented
crew members.(For some reason I don't seem to have lost any weight.)
We are in out third day now without sighting another boat,so we wait in
anticipation for the next contact.
Thursday night 25/5 7.30pm
Not a great deal to report.We have had 3 days of generally very light winds
which has slowed our good progress significantly
and will add a day to the trip.However,the winds freshened early this
morning and due to a below par bit of seamanship(not me this time)
we destroyed our spinnaker (not the one Robin lent me thank Heaven's.)
That was the expensive excitement for the day so our average speed is going
to be down somewhat on the lighter days.
We have sailed from early this afternoon under reefed mainsail as the boat
was getting over burdened at times under full sail.
Swell has crept up a bit and the occasional wave has come through that has
sent the boat skewing down the face at a great rate of knots.
It's good to have the wind back again as we knocked over 168 nm today,but
the loss of the spinnaker will no doubt cause a lecture from home re the
cost of this boat!
The fishing department is still poor (Mark Kyriacou can you meet us in Nuku
Hiva?) Two lines out for the past two days and not a bite.So much for my
vision of the monotony of a fish diet.I am now looking forward to buying
some fish off the locals at our Ports of Call on the way through the Pacific
islands.
The good news is tomorrow we will pass the two thirds mark to Marquesas and
we are about half way home.( I may make the ski season yet.It's going to be
tight!)After so long in warm climates with no significant rain I am looking
forward to some cold wet weather.
Still have not sighted any more boats-It will be good to get to
civilisation.
Tuesday 30/5
The highlight of today was a cooked breakfast courtesy of Sebastian.
(Actually, I think it could well have been the highlight of the last three weeks.
Given there is not a whole lot to do meals become the focal point of the day.
It certainly is for me anyway-this boy has been a God send!)
The bout of food poisoning is over and I have managed to repair the damage to the waist line,
plus added some margin as a defence for future errors of judgement.
We have passed about 9-10 large fishing vessels over the last three days,so we have
needed to go back to keeping watch at night.I hope they are having better luck than us.
(Us, three fish.Fish,6 expensive lures,copious amounts of line, sinkers, hooks and 2 massive tangles
using two lines at once.To improve our odds!)We still live in hope,though to our misfortune these fish
seem to be embarrassingly intelligent.
What is on everyone's mind is arrival at Taiohae (Nuku Hiva.)We were planning on a morning 1/6
arrival, but with 2 days of very light winds again, we have slipped back about 10 hours.So, we are again
motoring as a result of still no wind,trying to make up for lost time,to try and avoid a late night arrival.
This destination should be the turning point of our trip so far after the less than picturesque previous
Ports of Call.
We have all heard so much about the scenery here that I hope our anticipation of better things to come is not disappointed.
Though first things first.We have pretty much decided that number one on the agenda is a hamburger
and a tropical (fresh) fruit juice.It will be interesting to see what we can russel -up,our aspirations may need
to be modified to fit in with local diet.Nevertheless,after our lack of fresh fish,most anything will be a big
improvement on canned food,despite the highly skilled efforts of everyone on board,trying to add a cordon blue
touch to turkey spam.
Shall sign off here as I don't think there will be a great deal of excitement (hopefully) over the next 48 hours before
our arrival.
Bern