Day 29 & 30 37:06N 13:19W Winds F2-3NW 298nm (2 days)

Ralph made us an excellent lunch today and I think he is going to make a good supper too! I haven't mentioned Ralph before because he was the fish we ate rather than the cook which was me. Early this morning we realised we were absolutely surrounded by good sized fish. When I put my underwater camera in the water we could see they were baby Tunny and if we slowed down they slowed, if we turned they turned. The working hypothesis was that they had decided we were the great mother Tunny and the central tenet of their fish religion was that we would protect them. Boy were they wrong, we had lures over the side lickety spit and hauled in a 20 pound fish straight away. Justin noticing that the fish hadn't been put off by this and were still with us said perhaps they hadn't noticed or had just said, "Where's Ralph, anybody seen him?" from which point our catch became Ralph. Our fishing policy is that we only catch enough to eat but it was very tempting to keep a rod over the side for fun.

Louise despatched Ralph with my fish club which has on it "Welcome to Gran Canaria" which for some reason I find hilarious. Justin did the euchy bit with the filet knife and a finger and I bread crumbed and fried him (Ralph, not Justin).



Lunch was a strange mix as I had already prepared fruit bread and Louise had made Apple coleslaw. For once my pan bread worked out and I now know why I've had trouble with it on this trip. It's an easy recipe, 4 cups flour, 1tsp salt, 1tsp sugar, 1tsp yeast, handful of dried fruit. Mix in water to make a soft dough in a medium non-stick saucepan, let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes, cook on low heat for 20 minutes, turn over and brown the top. Easy except that I've been too clever and used a cup measure for the flour whereas previously we had estimated 2 cups to the mug which it turns out means I had been using too much flour and 3 real world cups is enough. Anyway it was a strange but nonetheless a very good lunch.

Just before our fishing excitement we had two freighters in view and I called everyone up for a recognition lesson. In just over a day we will be entering one of the busiest seaways in the world and it is important that day or night the person on watch can tell what they are seeing, which way it is going and what to do about it. I have been over the principles before with everyone but up to now one ship at 2 miles every 4 or 5 days has been news and in 24 to 48 hours these guys are going to have to get used to seeing up to 100 ships at a time (Gibraltar itself) on the radar some of which will be anchored, some passing safely and some an actual hazard. Also, as once we get into waters where high speed ferries (35-40knots) operate decisions have to be made very fast.



First question, "Justin which way is that ship going?", "East". "Ah, I mean which way is it going relative to us?", "Away". "Ah, see the white hi-rise bit at the back, is that turned towards us or away". "Sort of towards us, so it is crossing". "Correct, what would you see at night - Louise?". "A red light", "No, you would see its green starboard light and two white ones, low at the front and high at the back, who has right of way?". "We do because we are sailing", "No, I'm afraid that's the wrong answer, he does because a) he is bigger, b) he won't suffer any damage whatsoever if he hits us and c) the watch officer is having a bacon sandwich in the dining room and hoping he can hear the radar alarm from there if he hasn't actually fallen asleep". "Finally, what is happening if you can see a red light on the right, a green light on the left, a white light in the middle and it is maintaining a constant bearing to you - and what do you do?" Everyone, "It is coming straight for you and you get out of the way". "Correct, change course 30 degrees and if it is within 2 miles call me".



Either tonight or tomorrow night depending on where we are I am going to take myself out of the watch rota so I can do some of each watch with everyone until they are really switched on, then get them to call me so there are two pairs of eyes when the target numbers get bigger than four or five.



Crossing over the traffic separation schemes of Cabo Trafalgar and if necessary in the straights I will definitely be up, as with a slow boat like ours you often have to go quite close to the stern of crossing ships in order to have enough time to cross the scheme at right angles before the next one comes the other way. This is my third transit of the area but my first without AIS which does the identification of speed and distance for you - so four eyes and lots of Red Bull.



I'm sorry I missed the blog yesterday, other than the fact it was Canada day and Louise insisted we hoisted a flag to celebrate (Jim fortunately persuaded her out of the "distress" code flag and we spent the day with "Answer" hoisted) no-one can remember anything about it. We have been motoring along for about 48 hours in a mirror calm sea and it is frankly boring. Justin and I did try Juggling and Louise has a photo of us with 6 Oranges simultaneously in the air between us. Other than that we all read lots.

We just had a pod of Risso's dolphins (Black with no pointed nose) pass about 400 yards away, shame as they are interesting to see up close - I bet if they knew we were surrounded by their dinner (now dozens if not hundreds of fish) they'd have paid us a closer visit.

A mirror sea, a cloudless sky - must be time for some sunbathing.