can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Merci Papa - Fish contest on board of ''Merci Papa''



OF WIND AND FISH

The wind has not been the sailors? best friend for the ARC 2016 so the crew of Merci Papa Level 42 (#198) had plenty of spare time in between maneuvers and less-than-demanding watch duties. Every Captain knows that idle deckhands are a recipe for trouble, so keeping a crew's mind busy is always a good idea. Playing cards was one way. But fishing turned out to be THE way. 

Because there is nothing like competition to keep minds sharp and banter going, two teams were promptly formed. US citizens on the starboard hull with a professional fishing rod from Distrimar (Las Palmas) that was almost as thick as the mast, French citizens on port side with a makeshift fishing wheel and lures that had seen better days.

Never shy to work from a position of strength, Team USA quickly established a lead with consecutive catches of Mahi Mahi, each perfectly sized to feed a crew of 6 thereby earning the support and congratulations of the cooking crew.

Team France responded with a couple of less-than-glorious catches (what's the French word for bait again?) which fuelled appropriate heckling from starboard. Little did we know that things were just getting started.

Under the cheerful yet slightly dejected eyes of the sore-losing Frenchies, America launched what sure looked like a winning strike with the amazing catch of an 80-pound Wahoo. If it had been a pet fish, it would have been named Victory. Under a glorious sunset background, and after a lot of huffing and puffing, the monster was gaffed, landed and filleted while the lucky lure found its way to the water again, only to find Victory?s little sister (40 lbs) which promptly joined its sibling on its voyage to the icebox. High fives. Game, set and match.

If there is a thing that the French do well, it is losing in style. It must be the result of centuries of practice. ?Spellcheck? will not let me quote here some of the exchanges that took place, but suffice it to say, no one fell asleep during dinner.

After a few more boring night shifts and lazy watches, the tide turned. America having claimed victory a tad early (they have a tendency to do that, don?t they, Hillary?), France stunned the free world and refused to surrender (a first when given a decent chance).

FISH! FISH! Wizzzzzzzz went the port wheel, all the way to the end of the line. Mad struggle ensues. Knot gets tested. Fishing line is cutting through gloves while the Captain (an American, you may ask?) keeps the boat sailing at 6 knots because, you know, we still have ways to go?.

Everyone is staring at the trashing in the water 50 yards away. Another Mahi?

40 yards? a tuna, it is a tuna.
30 yards. Oh no, not another Wahoo?
20 yards? WTF?
10 yards?
And suddenly, we see it.

The Napoleon of the Atlantic.

The General de Gaulle of all catches.

A 60 pounds White Marlin.

VIVE LA FRANCE!

Channelling our inner Monty Python, we decide to call it a draw. Are we there yet?


Select list of catches on this voyage: 1 White Marlin, 4 Wahoos, 6 Mahi Mahi including a nice
bull at about 35 lbs. Remarkably slow fishing on the tuna/bonite front with a couple of very
small ones.

Having plenty fish on board sparked a lot of creativity in the galley! Under Armelle?s watchful
eye, we tested eight different recipes on this trip: Sushi, Sashimi, Ceviche, Oven-baked, Panned,
Papillotte (baked in foil), Grilled on BBQ, Deep Fried, ?Court-bouillon? (soft boiled). Everyone
had a favorite but all were delicious.


IMG_1175
IMG_0948
IMG_1038
IMG_1002
IMG_0991
IMG_1141
IMG_1092
IMG_1078

Previous | Next