Not quite a chronicle: I'm fishing with a stick

LAT 18°39.401 N

LON 16°51.725 W

UTC Date: 13-11-2011

UTC Time: 8:32:04

Speed 3.3kn

Course: 137°

Wonderful weather today!

In the last days we had nights of fog and no wind, crazy fishermen boats trying to hit us, nice pirogas with smiling Mauritanian fishermen and mysterious boats with no flag or name, also trying to hit us.

This last one happened yesterday morning. A white boat approached us at high speed on collision course, stopped, changed course so it was parallel to ours, stayed like this until we called all men on deck and then crossed our trajectory right in front of us… Some say it might have been the Sea Shepherd, but I doubt they are such suckers to do that kind of things.

Anyway, today I have my watch from 6 to 9am and I love it. This and the one at midnight are my favourite. You can get a decent sleep and still enjoy the best parts of the day/night. And today it was a real special morning. Almost no wind, so I shut down the auto pilot, laid down and watched the sky and the rays of the raising sun that pierced through the pale clouds. A look to the windex now and then is compulsory and the fact that you’re not checking the horizon for potential danger only adds to the experience. Feels like staring to the side when riding a motorcycle. Sweet cuddling with fate.

And yes, today, my seamanship training starts. Can’t wait to be called a seaman (funny word, I laugh every time I say it). Have to go, we have to make a jibe. …shifting is when you change the position of the Genova or the Spinaker.

By the way, we have a new Genova (90sqm) compared to the main sail that it’s “only” 65sqm.

Later that day/night…

LAT 17°52.824N

LON 17°10.021W

UTC Time 19:58:21

Speed 6.5kn

Course 181°

With no wind, but with plenty of whales surrounding us, the captain decides it’s time we have a bath. I’ve just finished my fish cutting table so I climb the mast and jump like a frog. I need more practice I guess… With over 1000m of salty water under my ass, just a few meter dive looking to down the infinity of the sea, feels like a parallel universe or something completely strange to my senses. I love the unknown…

After that huge school of Pilot whales this evening we continue to be amazed (captain included) by this incredible surroundings. At this right moment we look at colonies of some plankton, it looks like the sea and the sky are one. This Luciferasus, the bacteria that is bio luminescent (so cool to have 2 marine biologists onboard),light their body when shaken. The craziest thing about that is that you can see when something is swimming under water and it’s approximate size. A whale looks like an aurora borealis and a school of dolphins looks like an underwater firework show.

I think I’ll read for a bit and then my watch starts (2200 to 0100, just as I like it).

The nights got warmer and the first day of study was perfect!