Another day in the wind hole. Another day in paradise. Today was our
Christmas day.
The day began with a stunning blood red sunrise. Once the daily chores were
completed fairy Clairey sprinkled her fairy dust and conjured up some delicious
homemade flapjacks. The Bimini and boom were decked with paper garlands. And
what is this? Father Christmas had left a pink stocking filled with wrapped
gifts for us all!!! But where are the ‘reindolphins’ to drag the sleigh out the
Atlantic pond??
As our boat had moved approximately not at all, we decided with the kind
permission of Cap'n Nikki to go for a Christmas dipski. We all managed to wash
bodies and hair whilst clinging on to the fenders for dear life, floating above
6 miles of ocean - mind-blowing.
Over lunch we opened our pressies - lots of girlie varnish and treats. Lo
and behold our tranquil moment on the ocean was interrupted as the fishing rod
burst into action. Whilst Claire scarpered to the front of the boat the rest of
the crew managed to land a catch GFS style - it went something like this:
#1. While merrily eating Christmas cake No. 2 (thanks mummy nikki!!) and
opening presents the fishing reel sprang into action and all hell broke
loose.
#2. Eight supportive, happy ("we are a calm boat and we don't shout")
ladies turned into eight vicious carnivores.
#3. Crew member No.1 runs for the deadly gaffer hook that none of us know
how to use. The hook promptly falls overboard narrowly missing helmswoman - oh
we are still sailing! - a slick manoeuvre.
#4. Crewmembers Nos.2 and 3 leap to the stern, trip over the traveller,
just about avoid face plant and attempt to reel the fish in - heroic
effort.
#5. Several empty offers to jump in rescue dive style, after the deadly
gaffer hook were made.
#6. Another member of the frantic crowd of women trying to catch fish/save
hook/stop any injuries occurring fearlessly grabs the line with her bare hands
and nearly looses her fingers (the dorado must be ENORMOUS).
#7. With help of a fresh Irish linen tea towel the dorado was finally
wrestled aboard.
#8. Alongside all the flapping and faffing from fish and crew, helmswoman
keeps her cool and put her MOB under sail training to practice to save the
gaffer hook. (thanks RYA!)
#9. Gaffer hook was rescued using traditional MOB techniques i.e. hold on
to ankles and dangle 80% of body over the side, reaching for dear life for the
waterline and gaffer hook.
#10. Gaffer Hook back on board. No injuries attained.
#11. Photo evidence was now required! Note to self: don't hold beheaded
bloody fish for photo until it has stopped flapping ... messy!
#12. Filleted with precision, marinated with love (thanks Tricia delicious
dinner!) with Charlotte's last nearly mouldy lemon from the Greengrocers, our
Christmas dinner was served.
The day's activities continued after the fish episode; once the blood was
washed from our hands, feet, faces, legs, knees, boat etc the beauty salon
re-opened. We now end the day with very pretty sparkly nails - definitely a day
of contrasts - and at 10pm as we write this the wind has decided to love us
again and we are sailing along with an impressive 4 knots of boat speed in 5
knots of wind.
With love and fairy dust from the Girls4Sail crew on
Hotstuff.