24 November
Nakesa 21 1oN 18 2oW
The one that got away....
I am sad to report a wave of sadness washed over Nakesa this morning. At approximately 0630, skipper Graham Applin was on watch with Atlanta, when he heard the unfamiliar rattle of the hand line spool clattering on deck...
An immediate reaction from Graham and a shriek of joy from Atlanta confirmed, that, oh yes! Nakesa was indeed in with her first serious bite (or at least one we knew about).
Later, Applin (42 yrs) confirmed; "I saw a bloody great fin break the surface"
Shortly after the fight began, the plastic handline spool, some 6" in length and 4" in width shattered in Applin's hand, folding in half, cracking and shattering, leaving a bundle of line and a large spiders web in his hand, still he relented and fought on.
Realising the enormity of his task, Graham sent his daughter Atlanta to rally the troops. Scott (38yrs) and Hunt (32yrs) were awake and out of their bunks in moments.
Stumbling on deck to join the fight, Hunt seeked to give relief to the hard working hands off his skipper whilst Scott strode confidently to the foredeck to delve into the forepeak for the landing net. His task and Nakesa's confidence in their chance of landing fish can be understood somewhat as Scott had to remove half the forepeak, spinnaker, stay sail, cockpit cushions, Nintendo wii and the like before finally discovering the landing net (later a 30 minute tidying session had to be detailed to repack)
Back in the cockpit, Applin and Hunt working like a machine had managed to get the fish within 5 metres of Nakesa...
After a deep fight, she finally broke the surface; Hunts words;
"S**t! Its massive! Swordfish!"
This final 5 metres and the 10 minutes that persued are a little blurred. Scott's efforts in the forepeak were in vain, as the fish was some 1.5/2 times the size of the landing net...
Hunt repeatedly tried to begin lifting the fish to the deck only to realise a crane was probably more a just lifting device at the deck height than his arms.
With the realisation (and a few photos) that this beast of a swordfish, would not only keep us in fish for the duration of the trip but that it would also struggle to fit length ways in Nakesa's cockpit....it was now or never...
Applin bravely, sought out some gin (apparently lethal to fish...hmmm??? or at least more lethal than the Smirnoff ice that Atlanta bought out on deck! Brings a new dimension to the Smirnoff ice adds) he went within inches of having his fore arm speared by the javelin like sword, but he got the gordons dry (don't waste the Bombay sapphire) into the gills (and a bit in the eye and mouth) which seemed to calm the monster for a short period...
And so, here comes the heave, swordy (for yes, she had a name by this time in our aquantaince) almost came clear of the water, and with one last twist in her fight...
SPLPASH! the hook tore through her lower lip and she slid back into the water...(slightly dazed after the Gordons dry) she disappeared back into the blue...
And it was this that caused the wide spread wave wave of sadness on Nakesa at approx 08:00 today.
It is undertood that the crew were later becalmed and enjoyed a swim in some 3000m of Atlantic, spotted dolphins, turtles and schools of jumping fish. Reportedly the crew had lifted their spirits and were said to have re baited their hooks. Said Swordfish had grown in size throughout the day during conversation but was reported by Applin at some 1.5 metres and approx 20-25kg with a sword as long as his....
Jody Hunt
Nakesa