22:40N 19:32W Goldilocks and the 5 bears go swimming

Tranquilizer
Sail Ionian
Wed 24 Nov 2010 18:20
Wednesday dawns to clear skies and very calm seas. A poor night was had by Neil and Robin who share the strboard aft cabin due to the development of a very irritating squeak from the woodwork somewhere. They solved the problem initially by taking it in turns to sleep on the saloon settee. the problem was later solved by Neil with a very large hammer driving a screwdriver into the gap between two pieces of wood. Robin now has a screwdriver sized lump in his bed!
Neil and Scott mother to the crew today. Quick tidy up first thing and then listen out for the weather forecasts and other people's weather in different areas. Wind dropping for us all the time as for most of the others. Looks like we'll be becalmed around lunchtime.Decided that today was the day to have four fishing lines out so listened in to see what bait others were using and try the same. Loaded blue squid and pink squid with double hooks and two lines with bright fish with bills. Standing discussing the lack of fish we realised that the stern of the boat was alive with Dorado snapping at the bait. We hooked one on the pink squid but it promptly chewed through the line. We hooked another on the green fish but that one got away as we hauled it in. At least we know which bait works now.
Lunch was Greek salad with added red and green apple with ham and bread ably put together by Neil. None was left so it must have been OK.
At the after lunch skippers meeting we were AGAIN commended for our water preservation and promised showers later in the day as the watermaker had been running again.Early afternoon found us with no wind whatsoever and glassy calm seas so Rich decided that swimming was in order and rigged a trailing fender for the stragglers to catch. It took a while for us to decide which was the deep end and which was the shallow. We all decided on a dip except Scott who,being in the oil industry, reckond he knew what was down below and didn't feel comfortable being on the same level. Robin decided that jumping from the pulpit rail was a little tame so climbed to the first spreaders and dived in from there. Ninky decided that the foredeck was the best spot on the boat for sunbathing and claimed her place there. She now has a second nick name of " deck candy".
Evening meal tonight's going to be chicken with peppers and pasta ably cooked by Scott and Neil so we'll make sure the chicken's cooked through properly.
We are at present motoring on Southwards at 4 knots as we're not due any wind for a couple of days.

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