A quick "thanks" to Lizzie Rowles for letting us now that there was a problem with the blog yesterday.  Technical issue as we sent a test email at the same time by accident and the servers can't handle that at mailasail.  We resent at about 9pm so you should now have day 9b to look at.

 

We also had gremlins with this update - we thin because of the picture we tried to send.

 

Let us know it's now "up".  More tonight.

 

 

 

In line with the forecast, we motor-sailed gently to the south early this morning once the wind died on us.  This afternoon the wind has filled in from the west and we are now sailing to the southwest waiting for it to move further to the north and allow us to go directly towards English Harbour. 

 

Whilst motor-sailing, the engine suddenly stopped and after a bit of thought we diagnosed "something round the prop".  There was next to no wind and a smooth sea so Jez went over the side with a knife tied to his wrist to remove the cod end of a fishing net.  The sun was shining, there was little wind and the sea was beautifully warm so once the prop was free we all had a swim.  The water here is at least 4000 meters deep and as blue and clear as it's possible to imagine, it is a very odd feeling to be looking down so far with mask and snorkel !

 

With a view to "that film, where they all jump off the boat and then realise they can't get back on board" - Tim has just named it as Adrift.  We always left someone in the cockpit.  After all we had spent all morning waiting for the wind to get up and seeing Sadie disappear over the horizon without us would have been very bad ..

 

 

 

It's December and last night we broke out our Cadburys Advent Calendar - Ricky got to open the 1st and Tim and Jez will work out who's turn it is next for chocolate as we eat dinner tonight.

 

We think fishing fits under domestic.  After a week of failure we finally got the luck we deserved at 10 am.  Motoring gently at 4 knots with a squid lure out the stern we saw the rod tip bend and the reel started to let out line rapidly.  The boat was hove to and Tim hauled aboard a vivid green and yellow, 2 ft long Dorado which we have weighed at 4lb 10 oz.  After a bit of fun chasing it round the cockpit where it really didn't want the shot of vodka we had ready for it we killed it and now have 2 good meals in the fridge ready to go in the oven. If we have mastered the technology you should have a photo.

 

For the food purists who would expect this sort of information.  Lunch today was thin strips of raw dorado, with soy sauce, lemon juice and a little garlic mayonaise.  Served with home cooked bread and washed down with a Spanish lager - Life is good !

 

The boat is now dry and so are most of our belongings.  We have the hatches open as the seas are calm and are doing our best to stay in the shade because it's getting really hot.  Sorry for those facing the joy of an English December.

 

Given the swimming story which has somehow crept in under "sailing", it did disturb us (Jez in particular) that for the hour before our swim we had been throwing unwanted bits of Dorado over the side as it was filleted and prepared for the fridge.  We have seen Jaws and understand the principal of "chumming" but all's well and we still have the same number of arms and legs as we did when waking up this morning.

 

Someone may have been following the trail though.  Which brings us to ...

 

Natural History.

 

 OK, we will start with the simple but rare events.  At tea time yesterday we had 2 whales blowing about 100m off the beam.  They didn't hang around for long enough for a full ID so "big and black" is it.  They are really noisy when they blow and on the basis of 2 sightings, they surface and blow twice before moving on.  Any one got any science on why they blow twice ?

 

The Madeiran Storm Petrel was back today as were a number of the Manx Shearwaters ( 2ft wingspan, grey body, white collar, black head - description curtesy of Tim )

 

We've mentioned the Dorado !

 

Highspot of the day so far was a visit from a dozen (at least !) dolphins in the early afternoon.  These were 5 - 6 ft long, speckled grey with lighter, brown, undersides and a distinct dorsal fin.  Blowhole was at the back of the head (we are not sure if this is the case for all dolphins ).  They stayed for some time and gave a jumping display in the distance.  Maybe they followed the Dorado trail and were hoping for more free food ?

 

 

Granny Rowles - super cryptic text.  I enjoyed working it out !  Hope that you and "NLWK" are well.  Very helpful as I have a blindspot over K or C.

 

Harvey - I think that you got to open yesterdays advent calendar at home.

 

Joe / Lizzie - £34 to have the pair of you locked up in the Tower of London sounds like a bargain ! 

 

Lizzie - Hope you hit the right notes, singing with guides tonight.

 

Joe - Let us guess - nothing happened, right ?

 

Ellis (and any other sailor types who want to respond) - I can't believe you have have made it to sailor status !  Have a look at the Forgus 31 that our new Swedish friends are on.  Let us now what it is and how sporty / cruisy etc.  We will track their position relative to ours but that is no good if they are an ocean greyhound.