To Nosy Lava
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 22 Oct 2019 23:57
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14:32.173S 47:36.674E To Nosy Lava  We woke this morning and pottered
about, due to leave at nine it was not surprising to see the ‘sailing six’ all
in the cockpits at ten to. All anchors coming up five minutes later. Fred
radioed to say that Orange must gave been off overnight but it was now on with a
good signal. We waved to Nosy Antanimora and as Bear
took the watch I nipped downstairs to pay the credit card, do some emails and
send a couple of blogs. Out went the fishing line and we were set for a good
day.
 The mainland coast to our left
provided mile upon mile of mostly barren reddish scenery with patches of trees with no villages.
 Not much wind for the early part of
the journey but after lunch it was steady at twelve knots, sufficient to
motor-sail. Later on Fred came on the radio so excited to really be sailing. I
took this picture at a quarter to three with Nosy Lava a few
miles away.
 We headed in to
the bay with fourteen knots of wind tootling along at five plus knots –
our last few minutes before complete chaos. Bear began to roll in the genoa and
I began to wind in the fishing line. My new reel can be turned really, really
quickly so the process takes less than a couple of minutes, I did my first few
turns and wham, the line shot away from me. Mmmm caught on something, no. Oh, it
must be a fish who at that moment decided on a fight and shot off. Clutch
tightened, Bear still at the genoa, fish going nuts. I got the beast to the back
of Beez, Bear now sweating grabbed the gaff and leapt down onto the stern
platform and I brought the chap’s head up. I moved the footwell mats, Bear
gaffed and launched the chap skyward to land behind the steering wheel as
planned.
 Meanwhile, I had to keep an eye on
a local lady, crew waving, the first time I had to
steer with a fish between my feet.....
 Anchored beyond Serafina and
Slow Flight with eight metres below, our journey of twenty-seven miles
over, we could finally get Bear to pose with our beautiful
wahoo. Chopping board and big knife to hand, I stood on the stern
platform and used the Hydrovane ledge and set to work. Tail off, head and last
four inches in a bag for Maria to use (Trevor and Kimi caught a tuna and a wahoo
yesterday so no portions required on Slow Flight) I gutted, saved the
egg sacks for Bear, halved down the back and ended up with two massive pieces.
Downstairs I chopped one side into three portions that Bear managed to squeeze
into the almost bulging freezer and the other half was wrapped in foil with
salt, pepper and butter ready to cook for supper tonight and tomorrow.
Definitely time for a drink and a swift win at backgammon. Growling.
  The island of Nosy Lava (Long Island) stands at the entrance to Narinda
Bay, fifteen kilometres off the mainland town of Ananalava, Today there are
three small villages but it is most noted as housing the Prison of Madagascar, a
maximum secure facility opened in 1911 that held up to 270 inmates, mostly
murderers. Sadly, the island became notorious in 1993 when two prisoner escaped,
boarded an anchored yacht called Magic Carpet, killed the crew and set
off for the mainland in a daring bid for freedom. Political changes saw the last
of the prisoners released in 2010 and some continue to call the island home
today.
 The
lighthouse was built in 1910.
 Trevor and Kimi popped over for a
sherbet, said we would leave at six forty-five on the morrow, took in sunset and headed back home via Serafina as Maria
had fish biryani ready for them. On went our oven and whilst our fish was
cooking we did the first four rounds of a game of Mex Train before I prepared
mash and veg (quick and dirty – a tin of mushrooms, sweetcorn and tomatoes mixed
together). The meat was pure white and easy to fillet, Bear enjoyed one egg sack
with his, the other saved for tomorrow night. Delicious.
ALL IN ALL AN ENJOYABLE DAY
A LOVELY SAIL WITH A TASTY
SUPPER
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