At 05.00h we had a short sharp rain squall; the first rain since leaving Rio. Rushed up on deck from my "watch below" and stood naked on the deck with a bar of coconut soap, doing my ablutions. What a joy ! Washed, also: 2 shirts, 1 pair of shorts, 1 towel.
I had intended to give Juan, at the wheel, a chance to have a bath but the squall was of short duration and he had to be content with a drenching, fully clothed! Unhappily no further squalls.
Wind died away during the day and we lay becalmed through a stifling afternoon.
At about 17.00h Juan saw a shoal of fish and very soon a large turtle about a metre broad appeared, swimming round the boat. He must have been fairly old. was of a reddish colour, with barnacles on his back. With a view to having some turtle soup this evening the skipper made an attempt to harpoon him, but he got away.
Juan spent most of the day making the P.D.C.D. (Pluvial-Deposit-Captation-Device) consisting of a canvas gutter sewn onto the foot of the mainsail, for catching rainwater, which can be syphoned (sic) off into our already somewhat depleted 135 gallon fresh water tank.
Still becalmed at midnight, we lowered sails in order to rest better. Very hot night. Slept on deck.
The Cunarder "Caronia" was due to sail from Rio to Tristan da Cunha at 17.00h today, doing about 22 knots. As she may overtake us, I practiced lamp flashing with Juan.
Trolling for Fish. No Catch.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Chapter Two - B - Thursday 2nd February - Logged 90 miles
A most perfect day at sea. Moderate NEly winds to push us along our SEly course at 5/6 knots, a slight china-blue sea and a few white woolly clouds draped along the horizon.
Everyone sunning themselves, as we may not have many more days like this. The skipper climbed the rigging at lunch time and filmed the gastronomical activities and other aspects of shipboard life, for his French television principals.
Oliver has his first shower in the net.
The skipper's "C'est bon" in his quarterdeck voice, when some good food is produced or when something exceptionally pleasant occurs, is becoming infectious. We all say it imitating him. Not too good for shipboard discipline!
Further efforts to locate the "short" unsuccessful.
Trolling for fish. No catch.
Everyone sunning themselves, as we may not have many more days like this. The skipper climbed the rigging at lunch time and filmed the gastronomical activities and other aspects of shipboard life, for his French television principals.
Oliver has his first shower in the net.
The skipper's "C'est bon" in his quarterdeck voice, when some good food is produced or when something exceptionally pleasant occurs, is becoming infectious. We all say it imitating him. Not too good for shipboard discipline!
Further efforts to locate the "short" unsuccessful.
Trolling for fish. No catch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)