May 26th Position 35:07.75N 66:17.63W
Symatchmaker
Tue 26 May 2009 16:53
|
At Sea Day 9....
We Logged 147 miles noon to noon.
The seven day forecast predicts an area of high
pressure and moderate breezes all the way up to Newport. Winds were too light to
sail so we had to motor until 01:00hrs.
Captain Pete was Mum for the day. A ham salad
sandwich was served at lunchtime and for dinner a splendid Mahi Mahi
fish curry... ( caught by Mick - but crew would have liked a bigger
one please ... next time?) .
The day was spent fishing, reading and conquering
continents; - Yes, the light winds meant that the
games room was opened and the alpha male crew choose the gentle pursuit
of travel " Risk * ". The boat has now started it's
official Risk tournament as the ship's crew battle it out to capture countries
and continents. Blood is running high !
The highlight of the day though was from Mick, our
resident fisherman and his near catch.
With two rods cast out, Mick managed to hook a whopping great Marlin; a fish that can reach over
900 kilos in size. They are highly migratory, oceanic fishes, and voracious
predators. Unfortunately the lure that the Marlin took was on
the skipper's boyhood rod .... (...oh
dear...) A five foot -- Marlin leapt 6 feet into the air clearing the
water completely and thrashing skywards. Unfortunately, the poor old rod
and line ( ..and poor old fisherman!) ..weren't up to the task and after 10
minutes of struggle and Mick burning his fingers by trying to slow the reel
from screaming itself to bits, and the Marlin leaping out of the water behind
the boat again, clearly showing both its sword nose and sail dorsal fin, the old
line broke. Mr Marlin raced off, still thrashing the water and leaping as it did
so. A genuine - "one that got away ! **...
Early this morning the old rod was renovated and
the reel serviced - she now has brand new, 50lb breaking strain line on
it, and it, and the usual boat line are streaming out behind the boat
ready for the next strike. * Thanks Thom !
** This is how Mick recalls events - and he says that it is
all true ! |
