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Arkouda - Days One and Two, Not Just Another Fish Story



Sailing and seas have been very smooth for us.  After a harrowing start, (being non racers and double handlers) and nearly being run down by a boat under power after the 5 minute warning, we (being non racers, and a short crew of 2) instinctively headed away from the crowd under full main and jib.  Most of the boats have crew of at least 6, and are extremely competitive.  Ah, we could relax, grab the binoculars and watch the rest of the fleet start.  Wrong!  As soon as we looked back our beautiful sunny day was obliterated by a wall of water and wind headed our way.  Sean ran up to the mast, put in a reef, (to make our sails smaller, and better able to handle increased wind speed) and put up our cockpit covers to keep the rain out.  About 30 seconds before it hit the ARC organizers announced a gale warning.  I am glad we saw it before getting soaked! 

Starting out on the opposite tack (direction) of the fleet meant we had to work our way back through them as we headed to the end of Las Palmas.  Shortly after the gale, the wind just died.  I do believe it the first time we have sailed at 3 knots for more than 30 seconds.  With so many boats to dodge we finally started a motor and slowly wove our way through, again in the opposite direction of the rest.  I heard a commercial ship coming in on the VHF radio announcing that he was going around because there were "300 hundred sailboats out there!"  It was even worse than dodging the fisherman in Thailand!  Our boom was too noisy without wind to fill the sail, so by the time the wind came back up again we were down to just our jib (smaller fore sail) and sailed the night at about 5 or 6 kts.  We spent the night watching the few boats headed our way pass us by!  

The next morning we wrestled up our Parasailor, the huge sail that we carried in suitcases to Turkey.  It was not a pretty sight watching us raise it without Brady to help, but we finally got it up and have not yet taken it down.  I am just glad that we didn't try to set it for the start of the rally, we would have been really embarrassed!

On day two we sailed close to another boat, who kindly slowed down for us so he could take pictures.  Thanks sv Anna--we got some great shots of you also!

As we tried to make our way close to their boat Sean  heard a loud zing.  We were not expecting it--we dragged a fishing line all through the Med and never even got a nibble.  We only had the line out for 30 minutes.  Sean landed a beautiful Mahi Mahi -- he was bright green and iridescent blue.   We probably would have thrown him back had he not been severely injured!  No more fishing until the freezer is less full!   Barbecued Mahi Mahi was amazing though!  He was about four feet long, and about 35 or 40 lbs.  It took hours to clean and fillet him, and then clean the boat.  Hurray for water makers.  Showers all around.  So far we have only used about 10 liters of fuel--6 for motoring the first night, and 15 minutes on the starboard engine to heat up the water.  Another 3 liters on the generator to make water and do some laundry.   Our new water hydro generator rocks!  (Normally we would have to run the engines for at least 2 hours a day to charge up our batteries.  The solar and hydro generator have keep our batteries at about 93%)  Without it there would be very few showers and laundry would have to wait.  Supposed to be very light winds on Wed and Thursday, so I am sure that the extra fuel will come into good use!

We are adjusting well to the schedule with just two, and Sean had not pushed me overboard (yet!)  We still miss you, Brady--mexican train dominoes does not work well with just two people!

Love to all.

Cynthia sv Arkouda

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