Erin go Braugh! Sunny Saint Patrick’s Day! It was perfect weather for drying the laundry. Since we have a center cockpit, the aft deck is a great spot for a clothesline. It is not in the way of the sails, doesn’t get salt spray on it, and most importantly, does not impede fishing activities. This ordinary chore of pegging wet clothes on a line to dry is actually very enjoyable in the fresh breeze and hot sunshine rolling across an endless expanse of blue under a bright, clear sky. When people remark that being on a sailboat in a small space seems so confining, I always wish I could share the feeling of having such a huge space to live in. On the back deck hanging laundry, I’m enjoying the freedom of my enormous back yard that goes on in every direction as far as I can see. Being in this open space gives one’s spirit a chance to stretch, and that feels good! Just before 18:00, we were eating our evening meal of Shepard’s pie, when “zing zing, zing!” went the big deep sea rig! Fish ON! The supper went back on the stove, Captain strapped on the fish belt, I put a reef in each sail in an effort to slow the boat down. It was very funny. All afternoon we had worked to coax six knots of speed out of the light variable 8-10 knots of wind, then the minute the fish was hooked, a cloud squall came and suddenly there was 18 knots of wind!! Even with a reef in the sails we were sailing faster than we had all day...So we put the tail straight into the wind and still were going 6&1/2 knots. The fish was a 20 pound bonito, put up a righteous fight, wore both of us out, but what joy! After 75 minutes Captain had it reeled up close enough to the swim platform to invite the fish for a nice drink of 150 proof Cape Verde rum. Silly fish, just opened it’s mouth and drank deep. The rum worked it’s customary miracle, the fish became docile, and tomorrow’s dinner was being prepped. Actually more than just one dinner on that fatty. What a fun time. It’s the biggest fish we’ve ever landed on our Sweet Dream!
image1.