Saturday, December 19, 2009

Tuesday 14th February 1956 -- logged 110 miles

Today is "fat Tuesday" in Rio.  Pity we had to miss the carnival this year.  The temperature has dropped considerably and we are pleasantly cool at night and warm by day.

This morning, after breakfast, the wind dropped and left a short steep sea.  "Penelope" rolled like a beer barrel, and Oliver, who has been better these last two days, was sick again and had to go below.  We are now 17 days out, and his "match-boxed-sized"stomach has not yet got used to the more violent motions of the ship.  He is remarkably fatalistic about it however and shows great courage, which is a mercy.

Today a fish swallowed the tiny spinner and Juan outboard line picked up a bit of shirt which had been thrown overboard "Penelope".  the skipper says he has never seen such the fishless waters as the South Atlantic.  We've seen nothing but whales dolphins and turtles tunny flying fish and the ubiquitous Portuguese man-of-war.  So far absolutely no catch whatsoever.