Midnight we had made it as far as 16:36.92N 55:32.90W – Saturday 20th of December, 2008.

Engine Time – 0 Hours

Are these the Trade Winds finally? Yesterday after being becalmed for nearly the entire day a light breeze sprang up around 8PM which developed into a constant 15-20 Knots of wind from the North East. Because we are currently a little south of our destination Silky has been on a beam reach all day and night and it looks like our reach and the wind are here to stay. We have been rocketing along at about 6.5Knots which is such an amazing feeling knowing we are headed for Antigua and fast. We are now a little more confident we can make it in time for Christmas in fact we think we will be arriving early morning on the 24^th but will have to wait and see, a few more days yet. The weather I download from the Sat phone indicates that these winds are the real trade winds and they will be with us for the rest of our time at sea. Thankfully they have finally made it.  Fi and I have been going absolutely mad waiting for wind and just trying to understand the weather. We have read every bit of literature we have onboard about weather, we have studied the clouds but until yesterday we had been mislead by what the wind and weather has indicated it will be doing. 

The great thing is now no more need to run the engine and burn that precious diesel. This morning when I came off the last watch the batteries had fully charged up through out the night which is such a great way to start the day. I pulled in the tow generator which give us a little more ummph and then let out the reef I had put in the front sail earlier on during the night and we were off like a bride’s nightie.

As I do most mornings but not all, I put out a line to catch the days catch. I have been making my own lures so I try a new one out each day until I catch a fish just so I can feel I have gotten a return on my investment. This morning was no different apart from the fact that we had not fished for the last 2 days and I finished off the last of the fresh fish for dinner the night before. So I was a little impatient. I must have changed lures 3 times by 8:30 AM. Next thing nature was calling and as I sat on the toilet I herd this huge zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………. Coming from my line, by the time I was up to tighten up the drag I had almost been spooled. The drag was already on so tight due to me losing a couple of fish a few days before then once I tightened it up as far as I physically could the thing just keep going. Next I hove to and pulled in the front sail and let out the main sheet, I kid you not; the boat was being towed backwards. Well just as I was about to kiss my line and lure good bye the fish stopped and it was a case of winding it in. It was actually quite easy. By the time the big bad boy got to the side of the boat it was absolutely exhausted and could barley bat an eyelid. I gaffed him up and dropped him in the bucket.

I have been talking up the fact that I do want to catch a 20Kg Tuna I mean seriously I wanted to but now I am satisfied with this little beast. He must weight at a minimum about 12Kg if not more, he felt a lot heavier than my outboard motor witch is 12Kg’s and I can lift that with one hand. Not this little sucker.

It did not take me long to cut him up. Luckily I was in the fish markets in the Cape Verde’s where I watched them dissect these fish a dozen at a time, if only I had paid a little more attention. Well that being said I can promise you this, apart from the fish’s blood line nothing was wasted.

I now have a freezer full of fish, a fridge full of fish, a stove and BBQ full of fish. I think poor Fiona is going to be Tuna’ed out in no time at all.

The first thing we made was a tuna curry.  This was done with all the small off cuts and tougher bits of the fish, all good meat though. I now have enough curry for about 12 Person’s. Amazing is all I can say. Next we marinated some of the most delicate meat in a lime/coconut cream with some spice and put this in the fridge for the morning. Nothing like pickled fish especially when it is in coconut milk. Thirdly for lunch we rolled some cylinders of the meat in a Cajun style spice and seared it, sliced it and ate it.

I have no idea what I will do now with the remaining mountain of meat, I do not want to have to salt it as it is such hard work to do it safely, I could can it as I have the equipment but I am not that keen. I guess I will find a way to get through it. Anyhow next fish I want is a Wahoo, bring it on.

Special comments by Fiona:  Well Ben finally got his wish of catching a huge tuna, enough to feed us for weeks.  I was amazed at the size of him but felt sorry for him when Ben gaffed him to bring him in.  The poor thing looked very frightened.  I was happy for Ben as I knew this is what he’d been dreaming of, but not so happy when that horrid stench of overpowering fish guts and blood were all over the cockpit.  I watched as Ben cut chunks and chunks of flesh and put into container after container.  It all got a bit much for me when Ben took all the raw flesh down below into the cabin and that horrid stench that turns my stomach was now encased inside the boat.  Mix this with great humidity and it’s not pleasant!  I tried not to complain too much about it and helped Ben do what was necessary to store it all.  I only wish we had other people around us so we could share it around.  Got knows how we’ll get through it all.  Some-how though I’m sure Ben will make sure we do!  Oh and one thing I’ve noticed is that my skin, which is usually quite dry is turning really oily, especially my face.  Could that be from too much fish??

Day 151

Traveling Direction – West

Wind Direction – North North East – moderate

Swell – Moderate

Average Speed –  4.7

Top Speed – ?

Distance Covered – 113.5 Nautical Miles