Day 151 - Caribbean Passage - Day 25
Midnight we had made it
as far as 16:36.92N 55:32.90W – Saturday 20th of December, 2008. Engine Time – 0
Hours Are these the Trade
Winds finally? Yesterday after being becalmed for nearly the entire day a light
breeze sprang up around 8PM which developed into a constant 15-20 Knots of wind
from the North East. Because we are currently a little south of our destination
Silky has been on a beam reach all day and night and it looks like our reach
and the wind are here to stay. We have been rocketing along at about 6.5Knots
which is such an amazing feeling knowing we are headed for The great thing is now
no more need to run the engine and burn that precious diesel. This morning when
I came off the last watch the batteries had fully charged up through out the
night which is such a great way to start the day. I pulled in the tow generator
which give us a little more ummph and then let out the reef I had put in the
front sail earlier on during the night and we were off like a bride’s
nightie. As I do most mornings
but not all, I put out a line to catch the days catch. I have been making my
own lures so I try a new one out each day until I catch a fish just so I can
feel I have gotten a return on my investment. This morning was no different
apart from the fact that we had not fished for the last 2 days and I finished
off the last of the fresh fish for dinner the night before. So I was a little
impatient. I must have changed lures 3 times by 8:30 AM. Next thing nature was
calling and as I sat on the toilet I herd this huge
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………. Coming from my line, by
the time I was up to tighten up the drag I had almost been spooled. The drag
was already on so tight due to me losing a couple of fish a few days before
then once I tightened it up as far as I physically could the thing just keep
going. Next I hove to and pulled in the front sail and let out the main sheet,
I kid you not; the boat was being towed backwards. Well just as I was about to
kiss my line and lure good bye the fish stopped and it was a case of winding it
in. It was actually quite easy. By the time the big bad boy got to the side of
the boat it was absolutely exhausted and could barley bat an eyelid. I gaffed
him up and dropped him in the bucket. I have been talking up
the fact that I do want to catch a 20Kg Tuna I mean seriously I wanted to but
now I am satisfied with this little beast. He must weight at a minimum about
12Kg if not more, he felt a lot heavier than my outboard motor witch is
12Kg’s and I can lift that with one hand. Not this little sucker. It did not take me long
to cut him up. Luckily I was in the fish markets in the I now have a freezer
full of fish, a fridge full of fish, a stove and BBQ full of fish. I think poor
Fiona is going to be Tuna’ed out in no time at all. The first thing we made
was a tuna curry. This was done with all the small off cuts and tougher
bits of the fish, all good meat though. I now have enough curry for about 12
Person’s. Amazing is all I can say. Next we marinated some of the most
delicate meat in a lime/coconut cream with some spice and put this in the
fridge for the morning. Nothing like pickled fish especially when it is in
coconut milk. Thirdly for lunch we rolled some cylinders of the meat in a Cajun
style spice and seared it, sliced it and ate it. I have no idea what I
will do now with the remaining mountain of meat, I do not want to have to salt
it as it is such hard work to do it safely, I could can it as I have the
equipment but I am not that keen. I guess I will find a way to get through it.
Anyhow next fish I want is a Wahoo, bring it on. Special
comments by Fiona: Well Ben finally got his wish of
catching a huge tuna, enough to feed us for weeks. I was amazed at the
size of him but felt sorry for him when Ben gaffed him to bring him in.
The poor thing looked very frightened. I was happy for Ben as I knew this
is what he’d been dreaming of, but not so happy when that horrid stench
of overpowering fish guts and blood were all over the cockpit. I watched
as Ben cut chunks and chunks of flesh and put into container after container.
It all got a bit much for me when Ben took all the raw flesh down below into
the cabin and that horrid stench that turns my stomach was now encased inside
the boat. Mix this with great humidity and it’s not pleasant!
I tried not to complain too much about it and helped Ben do what was necessary
to store it all. I only wish we had other people around us so we could
share it around. Got knows how we’ll get through it all.
Some-how though I’m sure Ben will make sure we do! Oh and one thing
I’ve noticed is that my skin, which is usually quite dry is turning
really oily, especially my face. Could that be from too much fish?? Day 151 Traveling Direction
– West Wind Direction –
North North East – moderate Swell – Moderate Average Speed
– 4.7 Top Speed – ? Distance Covered –
113.5 Nautical Miles |