We lost a massive Albacore today. Repercussions expected to be serious.
And in case you did not know (and I did not), an Albacore is a type of Tuna. Ours was huge, estimated at forty pounds or so, and in case you do not believe it, we do have some photos which we will show you in due course. But I am jumping the gun here. Picture the scene. As usual, the line was out at the back of Cleone with a tempting lure flashing in the sunlight. Shayne, hunter-gatherer-in-chief, was asleep after a tiring spell hunter-gathering (actually he had been on watch), Graham was at the wheel steadily steering, Jenni was in the shower and the Skipper sat peacefully at the chart table tapping away at an e-mail. Suddenly the scream of the reel shattered the silence. Graham gave a startled cry, and instantly Shayne was wide awake; he darted through the cabin and seized the rod before it could break in two. Expertly he played the fish. Expertly Jenni slowed Cleone down (we were motoring at the time, so that was not too difficult). Expertly, if reluctantly, the Skipper abandoned his computer and came on deck. Expertly, Graham shot below and colleted his camera to record the event. By this time, Shane was engaged in a titanic struggle. The rod was bent double, and he was hanging on grimly to it, taking in line whenever he could, inch by inch. After what seemed like a couple of hours (maybe ten minutes - Ed), the fish was dragged nearer and nearer to the stern, and in response to Shayne's gritted-teeth request, the Skipper expertly released the near-by gaff, and readied himself to take on the struggle. By this time, we could see the fish clearly; it was a beatiful silver grey and had the long, wing-like fins that enabled us later to identify it as an Albacore. In truth a monster, it still had plenty of fight left in it. But Shayne wrestled it to the stern, and the Skipper skillfully (his words, not mine, Ed) lowered the gaff and lifted it out of the water. He then passed the gaff to Shayne (sorry Shayne, mate, but the truth must be told) with the fish wriggling but still on it whilst he, the Skipper, went below to fetch a hammer, with which to administer the coup-de-grace. But before he could do so, a despairing cry came from the cockpit; the Albacore was back in the water and free to swim away, which it promptly did.
We shall probably never know the truth behind this dreadful loss. Suffice it to say that the immediately convened Board of Inquiry established very quickly that the Skipper was not in any way culpable or responsible for any neglect or other misdemeanour in the matter of the Loss of Said Tuna. The Board will pronouce findings, naturally followed by sentence, on all other persons involved (actually all the rest of the crew) in due course. The findings are not expected to be sympathetic, and the sentence is not expected to be merciful.
Apart from that, the wind has stayed firmly in the North West. It is predicted to back to the SW and then S and finally SE. So our tactic has been to stay on the port tack, to head north of the Rhumb Line, and to wait for the wind to change and swing round with it. So far, no luck, and we are some seventy miles north of our Rhumb Line. But we are confident that Bruce won't let us down, and by this evening or tomorrow or tomorrow evening or sometime, we will be heading once more directly towards St Helena.
All well on board, and best wishes from
James, Graham, Jenni and Shayne
Yacht Cleone
26o17'S 008o48'E