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Firefly - We caught a fish on the way to the Doldrums



Leg 2 of the World ARC commenced from Contradora in the Las Perlas Islands at 1100 on Friday 7th and we are now en route to San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. There was a BBQ and prizegiving ashore on our last evening. We were very pleasaed to be in the prizes coming third on handicap in Class B ( we know its not a race!)and with others won a Panamanian wind instrument (bit like a recorder)for our log contributions to the World ARC web site. During the evening Susie drew on her early years and gave a very impressive rendition of 'London's Burning'. We also predicted our finish time to San Blas more accurately than other boats and within just over an hour, only to be told we didn't submit our time within the deadline.


Next morning in a force 2, Firefly was first away at the start, dipping behind American Spirit in the last few seconds before the start, the US boat being recalled for being over the line. Firefly led the fleet for quite some time until being overtaken by some of the bigger boats. Chika Lu, an X612 was the first to pass and it was remarked on board that it was just like racing against a 'giant turbo charged Xotic' (Xotic is an extremely quick X362 from our home port in Salcombe, owned by friends Ian and Wendy Stewart).

The wind direction was such that flying the gennaker was marginal and we were unable to do so until we could clear the Western most island of Pedro Gonzales. Firefly then became 'speedy Gonzales' and in 10 knots of breeze we had sublime sailing in sun, flat water managing about 7 knots. We sailed away from Las Perlas in the close company of Alpheratz, Hebe and Ghost. There was a great deal of radio chatter and bragging regarding the numbers of fish, mainly tuna that the fleet were catching.

All being novice fishermen, Firefly's crew had been receiving fishing tips from a number of people recently and were also loaned some spare tackel by the skipper of Clemantina, Augusto from Portugal. Thanks are therefore due to Augusto and others (including Andrew Bray, Firefly's original owner who had provided suggestions by e mail) as at about 1800, feeling somewhat left out and just before warming up our pre cooked chicken dinner, we had one last try with a different lure and with minutes managed to actually land our first tuna! It was probably about 3kg but enough for 3 and was gutted, cooked and eaten before 1930. Sushi for starters then fried tuna steaks. We now have a lucky lure so hopefully fish suppers will be a regular occurrence- not just on Fridays.

As night fell the wind gradually increased and the gennaker was eventually furled before midnight when gusts were reaching 25 knots. Apart for a couple of quiet patches we have had 'trade wind' conditions ever since. As an extra bonus there is a current flowing the right direction so in the first 24 hours we managed just under 170 miles traveled on the log but are more than 190 miles from the start. As we head South West from Panama we are likely to encounter the ITCZ (inter Tropical Convergence Zone) or Doldrums and anticipate a day or so of motor sailing until we hopefully pop out into wind again on the other side.

We have heard lots of news from home about the appalling weather and sincerely hope you have not been affected and your home intact. Sitting in the gorgeous pacific sunshine we are not expecting any sympathy for our situation.

Best wishes

Paul, Susie and Peter

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