Tue Feb 11th -Tue Feb 18th

Seven days plus five hours. 

We left Port Blair at 2pm on the 11th and dropped anchor today the 18th at 19:00 hrs.

Seven days plus 5 hours: 6 hour shifts makes for a long week. We had an amazing sail. Shawn and Ally both saying it was one of the best open water sails they have ever had. 90% of the time only the spinnaker. Night and day. Most of the time the seas were following but there were a few days that the wind was on our starboard. In the last few days Shawn and I got out some old fishing reels he had on board. Fixed them up and a derby was on. Some shots from day one:

Getting the reels ready:

Fish Number one. Mahi Mahi!

Day one winner Mitch!

Day two not so lucky. The lures were in the water for most of the day and either Shawn sabotaged mine or the fish who took the lure was a monster because my lure disappeared.

Day three Shawn was busy on the helium so I dropped his lure in the water for him. Not twenty minutes later this is what we got!

A Wahoo!

This is what he looked like later!

Skinned with the fillets ready to eat and his carcass ready to feed other fish. Winner of the derby! Me!!!!!!

It takes a lot of help to sail a boat and I want to recognize a crew member. Otter Mitch from my Grand niece Maisie:He’s been a big help the entire journey. 

Otter Mitch also helped on the helm as we navigated our way across the Sea of Bengal:

Tomorrow we make our official landing with customs and immigration and then explore Sri Lanka. From what we saw on the sail in it’s got a lot more than Port Blair. 

There is more to sailing than ropes and winches, cleats and bulging sails. There are faraway places and the ever changing light, and the silence, and a great peace at the bottom of your soul

Ferenc Maté