39:43S 35:42E
Tales of Amok's Adventures
Mike Jones
Fri 31 Dec 2010 00:43
ALBY RIDES THE WAVES
On the last day of 2010 it is flitting to comment on Alby and his mates who have been following us for the last 10 days.
Yes folks in a scene reminiscent of Hitchcock's "the Birds" we have been followed by an Albatross and some of his younger mates giving us a demonstration of ultimate flight control, whilst playing at zero feet in the turbulence of our mainsail.
Alby is the large white male with a wing span of about 9 feet who skims the surface of the waves demonstrating to his six younger chocolate brown brothers with a wing span of about 5 feet just how to do the ultimate flying bit.
One can stand and watch for ages and not, be not impressed; it reminds you of the "Red Arrows" flying display team.
AND get this, get out your prized Nikon camera with super auto focus 200 zoom exposing it to the nasty salty air and what does Alby do ? - Yes folks, you have guessed right he does a close pass with full flare within the minimum focus distance of said Nikon super lens. I am convinced Alby is playing to the crowd, yes probably to the less camera anorak type with the old kodak instamatic, for those of you old enough to remember.
Talking of albatrosses or is the plural just albatross, we met this amazing couple in Simon's Town, South Africa, Larry and Mary Anne from the immaculate yacht "Travasay III", Larry the retired plane jockey and lead vocalist and Mary Anne grand piano affectionada. Their secret and I am sure they won't mind me spilling the beans is that, it is not really a yacht, it is a marinised grand piano with organ aspirations in the form of a three stage Bauer diving compressor.
Yes, you are confused and so were we until Mary Anne prompted, at discrete appropriate intervals by Larry, explained the design concept for their yacht. The brief to the designer for the yachts main attributes was that it could accommodate a grand piano and a proper diving compressor, all of this in a 43 foot boat!! His response was classic "No, but seriously what do you want?"
Being a professional he came up with a great design, this did not get Mary Anne's approval as she wanted the mirror image, the reason ?, the audience always sits at the high note end of the piano, ie opposite end of the long hinge for those uncultured amongst us. Well, I didn't know that.
We were extremely privileged to be invited to a carol singing evening on the 15th December on board "Travasay III" with fellow international travelers and we sang our hearts out for three hours to the tunes driven by Mary Anne's piano and a gutsy vocal lead from Larry, a memorable evening enjoyed by the 20 plus people crowded into their accommodation, galley, cockpit and chart table. The 160 pound paella was pretty good as well says Tmoby.
In today's tendency to grey, liberalism, political correctness and compromise it warms the cockles of your heart to see something so good, positive and outwardly soul nurturingly coming from a couple with a no compromise view. It gives hope to us all. Three cheers for Travasayers and the watch word for 2011 is "No Compromise".
So as a final word from Amokers is we wish our family and friends old and new a very happy and positive new year for 2011 and when we are in our cups, maybe reflect for a few moments and drink a toast to our absent family and friends, who will always be part of us. Be not afraid share a tear together.
Happy New Year!
Mike, Laura, Pandora and Toby
AMOK
Southern Ocean
December 2010
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com