Day 8.
At last, what appeared to have been a redundant bottle of sun block has
come out of the locker. A sunny day with trade wind clouds but no trade wind
wind, still 5kts from the west keeps us cool as we settle to our books between
fine meals prepared by our most competent cooks. Last night our second fish, a 5
meal dorado, another escaped today, was cooked in a sauce made from our large
stock of quick ripening tomatoes.
To keep us amused our skipper has provided us with a variety of games which
include clear instructions in Spanish. Sevens and rummycub have been tried and
we will soon be up to the more intellectually challenging game of “Snap!!”. For
excerise we have been treading our washing in a bucket as the washing machine
has been declared to be too water hungry. A wash takes only one tank full so
this edict seems to be a little parsimonious.
Fenella has now covered over 1100 miles of which over 400 have been under
engine and at this rate we should soon be promoted to the coveted motor sailing
division as we have perhaps 1,000 miles left in the tanks. We had a wonderful
600 mile romp under sail at the beginning but there is no wind in the forecast
now but the crew stay positive. The quartermaster keenly pursues his quest for
the Golden Blanket award, No.1 ensures his fishing crown is intact by messing up
the attempts of others, the skipper controls all from his master suite of the
starboard hull, the rigger demonstrates great culinary skills and the cabin boy
does his Cindarella best. What fun.
Our sympathies go out to those yachts and their crews who are experiencing
more difficult times.