Tonic - Day 1 - Tonic- All at sea

Plan A was to stay well back and watch the mayhem of thestart from a distance before picking our way through the wreckage. Plan A didn't last long and soon we were in the thick of it running down to thestart line with boats all around us.  Order soon returned and withlight winds we decided to put the Parasailor up, an action we hadn'tsuccessfully archived since we bought it.  It was a shaky operation butsoon the big blue sail was pulling and instead of falling behind we were keepingup (at least with the smaller boats).   By evening the fleet had spread out and Chris prepared achicken tea which we ate with  a cold can of beer on the back of theboat.   We are working a 4 hour watch system with Roz and Jackon one watch and Tom and I on the. read more...

Tonic - Day 2 - The first fish

It might not have been large or pretty but Jack and Roz got it aboard and I'm sure it heralds greater success to come.  Well maybe.  And we did bring plenty of spam, just in case. Things are settling down into a pleasant routine now, even the wind and the swell are behaving although I don't suppose that will last.  The new parasilor is up there doing its stuff. We are currently finding 101 things to do with spinnaker tape - so better not rip the spinnaker now. Chris  . read more...

Tonic - Day 3 - Let's get Tropical

Never been this far South before. We crossed the Tropic of Cancer at 0955 this morning which felt like the first real milestone. Life is settling down nicely.  The skipper is happy because we have only burnt 6 L of petrol and 6 L of diesel so far, and all of that for battery charging.  The provisions are being used according to plan and as poor old Tonic's heavy load is lightened we might even go a bit faster, you never know.  The solar shower is out there warming up and salt-water washing is the order of the day. No more fish yet but I'm sure a great big one is considering the lure even as I write. Never been this far South before. Chris. read more...

Tonic - Day 4 - Whales, Dolphins and the One That Got Away

Well it has been 24 hours of sights.  Great excitement with the shout off whales of the larboard bow saw even Roz (who has been malingering in his bunk, complaining of some bug) come bounding out.  There was a pod (maybe 5) of pilot whales about 150 meters way. They swam with us for a few minutes before making way for some common dolphin who entertained us by swimming at the bow.  One youngster, clearly a male, doing the dolphin equivalent of pulling a wheelie, leaping clear of the water and winking. There has been an increasing use of phrases like "pig pen" and the passing out of €2 coins (the price of a shower in Kioni) and as it was warm the solar shower was put to good use. Being just big enough to shower 2 people (one after another) I thought that rank had its privilege but I. read more...

Tonic - Day 5: I Spy With My Little Eye

Been a very quiet 24 hours, no visits from dolphins or whales today. Still struggling with the fishing. It would help if someone knew what they are were doing. We caught another ugly monster from the deep last night, looked like the other one's twin brother, I hope their parents don't come looking for us as their teeth are pretty fierce. We've put a different lure out today in the hope of catching that elusive tuna. We've only seen one yacht in the last day... I thought it was safety in numbers but any one we see just tries to get away from us! I'm assured by the skipper that the rest of the fleet are just over the horizon in all directions.I have received the most emails of all of us. I can't help being popular but the crew are becoming envious and threatening to. read more...