15 March 2010
Great sailing during the last 24 hours. We had had quite enough of loitering about the ocean. With poled out genoa, Voyageur flew along averaging eight to eight and half knots. By evening the wind veered once more to the south east, so regretfully it had to come in again. For days now we have been waiting, hoping for the winds to back to the east south east so we can get those twin poles out but the wind remains doggedly on our beam. We must be patient. We are only just approaching the half way mark so there are plenty of miles ahead for Voyageur to show what she is made of.
The fleet is now well spread out, with 200nm separating us from the lead boat and 800nm in front of the late starters. The early part of the night brought a little excitement. Liza, who was ahead and more to the south of us, radioed us with the position of a buoy that they had sailed close to. Within half an hour we came across another, passing it within 20metres. I relayed the latitude and longitude to the others behind. It was flashing red and green and lay on the surface of the water. Not a weather buoy we were puzzled as to its origin. Now 1300nm out into the ocean it is not the sort of thing you expect to come across. Shortly after, all became clear as the group north of us reported huge ships with very bright lights. We could see the sweep of their powerful searchlights 20nm away off our stern quarter while another group were 15nm off our port bow. David altered course to avoid them as they were towing long nets. A Korean fishing fleet. Charles reported the largest one to be 100metres in length. We came across one of these when on our way south after leaving Scotland back in 2004. Based at Killybegs, on the west coast of Ireland, the Veronica was not allowed to fish in European waters. The ship had to go all the way to Australia to fish in the waters off the west coast. At the time the "Veronica" was one of the biggest factory ships in the world with plans in progress to build an even bigger one. The master, Jim, invited us for lunch and a tour. Lunch was chicken! The tour was all about fish. Two decks were devoted entirely to cold storage with another where all the fish were processed. Canning, labelling and packing in cartons were also all carried out on board and destined for the Egyptian market. I think what the others saw last night must have been something akin to the Veronica.
Susan Mackay