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We have continued our journey slowly up the Atlantic and have just crossed into the Tropic of Capricorn, it is distinctly warmer. Unfortunately over the last couple of days the winds have not been in our favour and we have been lucky to make 130 miles a day. However the waves continually rock the ship, three to four metres in height even on a calm day. You see them appearing over the horizon, some four miles away, and they gently roll in until the ship is consumed in a huge trough. Fortunately the sea sickness is no longer with us and the continuous sway goes almost unnoticed other than ones balance can be compromised.
The albatrosses have long disappeared, we are well out of their range, and this has allowed us to start fishing. Majestic as these birds are, they are not the brightest tools in the box and will dive, chase and swallow a fishing lure. Landing one’s catch can then be problematic as it becomes akin to flying a kite! The marine biologist on board ensures aeronautic fun does not form part of the ships entertainment. Anyway we were soon successful and the crew gathered to watch the Captain land a four-foot Wahoo which is described in the dictionary as a vigorous mackerel. It is not currently available on Asda’s fish counter I understand. It was subsequently dispatched to the galley with remarkable speed and efficiency its poundage, sufficient to provide two hearty meals for the crew.
Life on board is a relatively simple affair, work eat sleep around a three day watch system which moves with the clock, and repeats itself for the entirety of our time at sea. We have no mobile phones, television or radio to wile away our down time, so events confined to the ship and our immediate surroundings stimulate interest and conversation. Crew members are encouraged to give presentations pertinent to their skills and hobbies which have thus far given us insights into Bee Keeping and Neuro Science, the latter, as you may expect I had some difficulty getting my ahead around. I knew plenty about the birds and the bees!!
As the ship is Dutch registered, we celebrated Queen Beartrices birthday with a deck party. Bunting adorned the ship, an orange bandana was hoisted aloft and we barbequed the Wahoo we had caught earlier. I can honestly say it was the best fish I had ever eaten and partying in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is a pretty cool thing to do.
Of course we were at that time unaware of the events unfurling in the wider world, the assasination attempt on Queen Beatrice and the outbreak of swine flu, the latter having some consequence for our arrival in St Helena. Clearly it is causing some concern around the world and islands as small as St Helena could be decimated by the introduction of such a virus. We have given health declarations and since we have been at sea for nearly two weeks we have in fact been quarantined and do not pose any risk. The ocean can be a very hostile and perilous place but as news filters out from around the globe ‘it’s the safest place to be’ (to coin a phrase)
Doddy
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