Position 14:35.36N 036:51.40W
For readers of this blog (assuming there are any) who are both old enough
to remember 1960s/70s hit music, and are also fond of puzzles, the subject
header of this piece may had told you what is to come – others, you may have to
read to the end. But on to the blog...
All on board seems to be getting a bit repetitive.
Sailing through the night watches, with the wind gradually dying, until the
engine went on at 02.00. Come dawn, a breeze reappeared, enough to set the
asymmetric and give a consistent 6 knots of boat speed, but then the wind
started to fade, perhaps a little earlier than we had expected, and the engine
came on again at 12.00. Looks like we will be motoring for possibly
another 24 hours, but after that it looks like we will have increasing winds all
the way to St Lucia. We should have enough fuel for the motoring, we have
already transferred 40 litres from cans to the main tank but will leave the
remaining 40 litres of slightly dubious cans and fuel we bought in Sao Vicente
until we are forced to use them.
Two events today – one memorable, and one not so. Not so? – caught
another fish – good eating size – but it did a runner as it came alongside,
taking with it the lure, and the lure from the other rod which had become
entangled with it. Since then we have lost a third lure so it’s been an
expensive day’s fishing for no reward
More memorable? At about 12.30 there was a significant impact – we
had hit something. Toby and James were relaxing below and rushed up to
join the others on deck to spot something on the surface in our wake.
Fishing rods were reeled in, and we turned the boat around to retrace our wake
and see what the object was. True Colours unerringly returned to the spot
(i ever we have the misfortune to have an MOB I hope we can repeat the trick)
and discovered that we had hit a giant turtle; it was huge, probably 2m
across its back with a massive head. It was alternating between
doing summersaults in the water and swimming beneath the surface. We
took pictures, and all silently prayed that we had not injured it too badly and
that it would recover.
And the subject of this piece? – “Happy Together” was The Turtles’ greatest
hit.