Lat: 19 18.1N
Long: 022 29.4W
Speed: 8.8 Knots
Course: 200 T
Weather: Wind NE for 5-6, seas 6-8 ft
Sails: 4 lowers and topsail

This has been a ride. We made just under 180 nm in the 24 hour period ending at noon - having averaged almost 7.5 knots. Since then we have continued on at over 8 knots continuously often making 10 knots for several minutes at a time. Amistad is sailing like a champion - racing along the backs of these swells, bowsprit arcing across the horizon, spray flying..... only to have our post-lunch time punctuated by the call - "Fish ON" -

Paul did a great job of handling the rod - as the fish took off and we steered Amistad to a dull 5-6 knots of stalled speed. After a good fight, once he got the line to stop reeling off the barrel, Paul brought alongside one of the most beautiful fish we all had ever seen  - we think it is a Blue Marlin  - honestly we need to ask for a Guide to the Atlantic Fishes - as we are not really sure... Long snout - sandpaper-like gums instead of teeth, beautiful large eyes and twin spine-like fins that fold into its underside.
As we subdued the fish, all 6 feet of her - we were surprised to see two small fish leap out of the Marlin's (?) gills - two fish I could identify as juvenile Remoras - those symbiotic fish that have a sucker on their heads to stick to their host - often seen on sharks. These two small fish had the tell tale mark - what looks like a moon boot print - on their foreheads and fins along their undersides. We threw them back so they could grow big.....

Dinner was surf and turf - had to eat that pork roast one day - and the Marlin (?) steaks are in the freezer....

Comments (0)