Sunday, January 9, 2011

Chapter 2 - X: Saturday 25th, February - Logged 115 miles

"Wham" went the trip-line on the troll in Lat. 35°17'S, Long 02°00'W at 9.00h, on Olivers watch, indicating that: -
          a)  a bunch of seaweed (we have seen a lot floating around recently)
or      b)  a big fish
had attached itself to the spinner.

Juan started hauling the 5mm nylon line - some job too - whilst I called the skipper, who was taking a cat nap.  Soon a huge white Tunny came into view.  Too heavy to haul on board directly the skipper harpooned the fish, exceedingly skilfully I thought, and we hauled him on board in the net.


A beauty, estimated at 60 lbs, and big enough to keep us going on fresh fish until the end of the voyage D.V.

After preliminary photographing and filming - some filming of the skipper cuddling the fish, and cutting it up, was done by me - the real work of carving, sorting and preparing parts for preserving commenced.

The filming on this voyage is being done for the French (Govt. Controlled) television, with whom the skipper has a £1.000 contract.  As there is close cooperation between the French television and the B.B.C.  it is possible that some of our escapades will be shown in England in due course.

The bulk of the meat of the tunny is being cooked and kept soaking in olive oil.  Today's menu for lunch:-

     Gin and orange
     Fresh boiled Tunny; potatoes and sauce
     Argentine peaches (canned)
     Orangeade (from bottled O.J)
     Coffee

How good fresh fish tastes, after 28 days at sea!

We are now down in the 36º parallel and have experienced already some light westerly winds.

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