3/25/21
1175 Nautical miles, 6 days and 3 showers ago we left the dock in Ensenada. We’re now halfway and can start counting down the miles to our destination in Hawaii.
I imagine that it was the guilt for deserting us for such a long time that drove the sun to come out of hiding just in time for our halfway celebration. But no hard feelings were held, as we embraced the short but blissful warm rays as we ate together on deck. It was a special occasion and so the boss treated us to pudding. Apple and pineapple crumble, WITH whipped cream and caramel sauce. Delights like these are appreciated more than ever when at sea.
The welcome sunshine gave crew a chance to get on with some popular domestic chores, with the traditional bucket wash becoming ever so popular. Clean clothing has become rather scarse at this point and so the rail soon filled with colour as undies blew dry in the cool breeze. Not all of us were quite so on the ball and are still stretching out an extra day or two in the same old t-shirt.
However, the sun has a more important role to some of us than others. While many of us selfishly wish for warmth to bask in and a golden tan, our crew member Doug optimistically pops his head out of the companionway everyday, in search of the sun to plot our position. Doug’s studying for his ocean exam and depends on that all important ball of fire in the sky to find out where we are exactly or to the nearest 5nm will do! I won’t pretend the next bit is fun or simple. As once that sight has been taken, the hard work really begins, starting with a marathon of mathematic calculations. The fact is someone far more intelligent that all of us put together has come up with this strategy. You cannot fully understand it, nor should you try to but just accept it.
Big hats off to Doug, for his consistent effort, patience and accuracy!
We have thrown in a few gybes and unlike the forecast predicted, the wind has dropped but this has meant we are finally sailing with full rags up into the sunset.
Dinner prep is underway and on tonight’s menu, homemade sausages and mash. No sexual innuendos were used in the hand rolling of the sausages. We’re all adults here.
Two fishing lines continue to drag hopelessly behind the stern of the boat. Convinced they were working as a deterrent having had zero interest, we decided drastic fishing strategies needed to be implemented. It was time for the big squid lure. Our secret weapon was out; the most delectable of shimmering squids surely no fish could resist. For if this didn’t work, what would?
As we reeled the mahi in, excited discussions over how best to serve our catch began in. I’d like to have finished this story with news of our success and smugly fill you in on all the details of how delicious and fresh our catch was and show you photos of the vibrating green skin of mahi. But that’s not the case, not today.
Fish 1 – 0 Sea Dragon
