Dances with Dolphins
Mercury-rising
Sun 27 Nov 2005 16:45
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Heading further south, to avoid small high pressure
to the west of us. Only time will tell if this works as well as the less
imaginative direct route those ahead of us have taken. Some may think its the
Skipper's ploy to make sure there are plenty of people in St Lucia ahead of us
to help him with the parking.
Crossing the 22W line engendered a sense of well
being on board the like of which had not been experienced since the
first mate's feet washing day. However, the idiot who e-mailed home that we have
at last entered Ellie* is still on the keyboard doing some damage
limitation.
First Mate announced today that he has perfected
the art of communicating with "our" dolphins in their own language. This came as
a relief to the crew, who assumed he was dealing with a serious problem with his
dentures.
Relief short lived; First Mate last seen studying
the flying fish, and muttering "I wonder what they're thinking
....".
We've just realised we must be one of the "pirate
boats" reported in the area. Skipper detoured last night with the aim of
negotiating with a local fishing boat to exchange a couple of packs of
Marlboroughs for some of the fresh tuna from our hold. Locals fled at sight of
Skipper bearing down on them, replete with red sarong and three days' growth,
boat hook in hand.
Skipper, incidentally, is putting out that we are
short of electrical power. We know it is just a ploy to curtail freedom of
speech, but don't worry, Stowaway has another transmitter hidden under his
bunk, so the world will still get the true story.
Oh, yes, Stowaway... more on that story
later...
* Sea area Ellie, from 22 degrees
west.
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