Amokura - Log Day 2 - Fresh tuna for supper

This morning's excitement was Mark setting up the fishing line again at dawn with his new iridescent green squid lure, After a few nibbles yesterday, success was almost immediate. The first one was the one that got away, but the second one was less fortunate - we landed it on the sugar scoop, swiftly despatched, cleaned and popped into the fridge for supper tonight.

Mark's toes have faired a little better than the tuna, although they have taken a hammering as he seemed to be in range every time I lost my balance when the boat rolled! After the 3rd time he decided to wear his trainers around the boat! He is a bit in the wars with a bumped head and a sore eye.

We watched with interest another yacht coming up from astern with an unorthodox downwind rig. A genoa set but another sail straining untethered high up the mast looking like some kind of alien jellyfish. Whatever it was it worked really well as they steadily overtook us.

We've been sailing in close company with other yachts, their cabin tops disappearing behind the swell. Several have accelerated away but we're really happy with our progress and it's been a brilliant sail so far.

Vicky and I had a hilarious time making lunch with the rolling. Our technique was to dive into the front-opening fridge grabbing items at random then closing quickly before things came shooting out horizontally like balls from a machine on a practice tennis court. Wedging them on cloths on the countertop to stop them sliding was fairly successful. Nic says he had a close call with escaping yoghurts last night - could have been messy!

We're carefully monitoring the fruit and veg purchased in Las Palmas. It's in various boxes and nets in the forepeak, and will doubtless all ripen at once! Today was all about eating the grapes. We'll probably need to overdose on avocado tomorrow.

Feel so lucky that so far we have an almost full moon to light us on our way. The sea looks like molten metal, hypnotically hissing along beside us. The moon is on our port side when I go off watch at 2200 then has climbed across to the starboard side by the time I am back on watch at 0400 then slowly sinks as dawn approaches. Orion is right next to our masthead visible through some light cloud.

Nic describes the pilot berth in the saloon as like being in a coffin but he is certainly managing to sleep! It's funny how the rolling always seems worse when you are in your bunk, we don't notice it so much on deck now.

Miles logged in last 24 hrs - 154
Average speed 6.4 kts

Signing off...

Liz Brigstocke

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