A squadron of flying fish

Rhapsode
Mon 15 Nov 2010 13:03
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