An early start yet again – much more of this will kill me, I know. We called the launch over to pick up John, Barbara, + Eddie, + I went ashore with them to see whether we could buy some diesel, to call another friend of D + M’s to see whether they would like to come out before we finally got away. Back to the boat, + work again – I assure you boat life isn’t all lying in the sunshine. In fact, as yet, it hasn’t been that at all. Their friends arrived + stayed for an hour or so, + then once again I went back with them to purchase the diesel – my last chance of dry land for a while – back to the boat, + then in a short time off we were, into the Big Pacific. It really wasn’t all that exciting – after 6 weeks waiting, the excitement sort of loses its edge.
Anyway… once we were clear of any immediate hazards, at about 11, Val took the wheel, till about 1, when I took over. Steering is both easier + harder than with a car. There’s very little other traffic, + the road is as wide as you want to make it. On the other hand, you have to keep the boat to a compass heading, + the blasted thing will keep swinging about. We kept the engine running all day – we did add a stay sail for a while, but that didn’t really help matters. We also trailed a fishing line, + much to everyone’s surprise we caught one after about 3 hours, a good-sized tuna. I burnt my hand trying to stop the line, but it was worth it, since Monika cooked it for supper that night. Later we caught 2 more, dolphins this time, tho’ one got away right at the end, + one we threw back – we didn’t even have room to put it in the freezer.
Problems late at night, when Dave noticed the mizzen was loose – it ripped the mounting for the back stay right out of the deck, so there was panic for quite a while, Dave rushing round tightening things up. I took the helm from 7 to 10, + finally came in for some sleep at about 11. Generally, a good day.
And so, the real thing at last. Out in the ocean, taking the wheel, catching fish… and then eating it. All good… except for the mast, of course.
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