01.59S 97.39W 23rd July 2011. Day 4 Pacific Crossing
Mojo 2
Andrew Partington
Sat 23 Jul 2011 23:08
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A great deal has happened over the past 24 hours
and none of it bad.
We had another very easy overnight sail in 12 knots
of wind and calm seas. Having the boat de-powered the way we have means there is
little to do as far as sail changes are concerned.
In fact we have only reduced sail on one occasion
just prior to a squall and even then there was no real need to. Since leaving
Galapagos we have been on the same reach for 4 days and it may well be that we
can sail the whole way to the Marquesas on this same reach. This passage has, so
far, been a breeze compared to anything we have seen before.
We are both feeling well rested and able to fully
enjoy each day. Being de-powered is really making life stress free. It may take
a bit longer to reach our destination but who cares!!
At around 7.30am this morning we were chatting at
the helm station when we both commented that we thought we could hear a
helicopter. As we looked astern we could see one coming towards us low and fast
from a couple of miles back. He would have only been 30 metres above the surface
of the ocean and as he came nearer we could
see the helicopter had floats beneath it. From about 50 metres to
our stern he started flashing his lights and both the pilot and passenger
started waving and giving us the thumbs-up. We of course waved back astounded to
see them so far out to sea. They did a loop around us and then hovered
about 5 metres over the water just behind our stern. I motioned to them to
stay there for a second as I raced inside for my video camera. They obliged and
I filmed them as they took off again, arced around us and left. Jane & I
were shell shocked to say the least, why on earth would there be a helicopter
this far out to sea? As they were heading towards the horizon I shot
into the cabin and grabbed the radio and tried to call them for a chat.
Immediately I was answered by the Skipper of the fishing vessel the helicopter
had come from. They were a Venezualan tuna boat skippered by an American and the
helicopter was used by them to spot schools of tuna. We spoke for a couple of
minutes and the skipper asked us if we were okay with water and diesel and if
there was anything they could do to assist us. He said they often flew by
sailing boats to see that they were okay. I told him we were fine but that we
very much appreciated the contact and offer of help. Following this I fired up
the radar and saw that the fishing boat was only 7-8NM north of us but without
radar invisible to us. You think you are alone in this big ocean but clearly
there are others and it is pleasing to know they are prepared to offer
help.
Feeling confident now that there were fish in this
ocean I set up the fishing rod and lure. About 30 minutes later the reel sprung
to life and netted us a small tuna. It has provided us with two good meals but
did not put up much of a fight. A couple of hours later the reel started singing
again but this time the fish was taking serious line from us. Jane took over at
the helm as I set to work trying to land the fish. On two occasions it took to
the air and also went for a couple of good runs. After about 5 minutes I
had him at the back of the boat and could see it was a large Mahi-Mahi. Landing
him was a bit tougher on my own but I got it done with the aid of the
gaff, and he has provded us with three very large meals. Given we had
filled the freezer with fish and I had cleaned two fish and the boat twice we
thought it was time to put the rod away.
We have continued to see wildlife with another pod
of dolphins putting on an aerial display for us. During the morning we were also
followed by either very strange looking dolphins or small whales.
They did not have the usual snout seen with dolphins and instead had a very
rounded head. Something to check when we get home.
Jane has committed to getting home for Sally's
Birthday on the 17th August so she may have to either fly out of the Marquesas,
sail with me to Tahiti after the Marquesas, or both of us just sail directly to
Tahiti and bypass the Marquesas. All of these options will be influenced by the
time taken for us to sail across the Pacific. The problem I have is that I
no longer have crew to sail the boat beyond French Polynesia and if I can't
secure crew I will have no other option than to haul the boat out in
Raiatae and fly home. If anyone reading this is enthused about sailing through
the Pacific Islands please feel free to email me on the boat at mojo2 {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com.
We have made another 134NM in the past 24 hours and
are now 2543NM from the Marquesas.
Andrew Partington.
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