Day 10

Pearl of Persia
Andrew Lock
Thu 28 Mar 2013 19:54
It is now 10 days since we left the Galapagos and we have covered about 1500
miles. We saw a couple of boats as we left and a freighter yesterday but
apart from that, nothing, just the vast open ocean. We just rock and roll
along, reading, doing some maintenance on the boat, navigation and check on
wear and abrasion points....on the boat that is. Over such long passages a
line rubbing against another or the sail chaffing against the mast can
quickly cause damage and then failure. We set off heading south west through
the doldrums until we came to the trade winds and then pointed towards the
Marquesas Islands 2500 miles away. We keep in contact with other boats by
short wave radio twice a day, but apart from that, we feel totally isolated
from the outside world. We haven't yet changed our ships clock and dawn has
got gradually later as we sail west. When we left the first hint of light
was at 6:00 but now it's totally dark until 7:10. Tropical nights are long
around 12 hours, unlike during an English summer when daylight lingers on
until late evening. And when there is no moon it is totally black. Coming up
on deck for a night watch, into the blackness, with the boat pitching and
rolling and the hiss of the sea around you makes your heart beat a little
faster..... . It takes time to become orientated and then we sit in the
corner of the tiny cockpit thankful for the protection. During the day we
normally have the fishing pole out the back of the boat and yesterday caught
a wahoo, only 3 pounds but enough for 'ceviche' for a couple of meals, and
then today we caught a tuna. In fact we were just about to eat lunch when a
high pitch zip announced a catch as the line ran out. We reeled it in, and
lifted it aboard with the gaff, a fabulous 7 pound tuna, gleaming and
glistening. We're getting quite practiced at skinning and filleting them.
Tuna carpaccio, sashimi, (yes we have the wasabi) and tuna steaks are all on
the menu. Before leaving the Galapagos we stocked up on the fresh food we
felt would last, including a big hand of green bananas, and now they have
all ripened at once...some of them over ripe so Sussanne baked a big banana
loaf which was brilliant Pictures show 1.wahoo 2.Filleting the tuna. 3
Sussanne holding a flying fish, They land on board every night and we often
see them flying across the sea surface. 4 Sussanne's banana cake

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