A squadron of flying fish
Rhapsode
Mon 15 Nov 2010 13:03
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13 06N 23 48W
We cleared the island of Santiago at 4 pm yesterday
afternoon. A few white horses appeared in the distance and then, quite suddenly,
we felt the full impact of the NE Trades. No more fickleness. The boat shot off
like a scalded cat, or should that be rabbit? Anyway, we shot off like a scalded
little furry animal.
What does that mean I hear you
landlubbers asking. Well, the speed picked up from a reluctant three and
half knots to about six and half. Not so impressive, huh? If you were driving
your car at 3.5 mph and then accelerated to 6.5 mph you wouldn't make much of a
fuss, would you?
No, well, think of it like this - the theoretical
maximum speed for our smelly little boat is 6.8 kots so it was like going from
half speed to almost maximum speed.
It was fun and we had the most exhilarating sail
the boat has done for quite some time. We reefed down to the Genoa for the night
so that we had a better chance of getting some sleep. Andrew had to use the seat
in the main cabin cos his leak remained unmended.
Lots of flying fish today. We've decided that
collective noun for flying fish should be 'squadron'. I had one fly on board
during my night watch and then it flapped itself off again. As did one on
Michael's watch. Andrew used the fish slice to encourage his one back
in the water!! (What else would you use a fish slice fore?!!)
Happy sailing!
P, M & A
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