Ennui Went: Saturday, November 5th

5th Day at Sea

The Old Man and the Sea and the Front Approaches

Early morning squalls. Still making southeast. I nearly land a mahi-mahi. And, the front is upon us.

Chart

Maritime Weather Discussion

.WARNINGS...PRELIMINARY.
.NT1 NEW ENGLAND WATERS...
NONE.
.NT2 MID-ATLANTIC WATERS...
.ANZ905...THE GREAT SOUTH CHANNEL TO THE HAGUE LINE...
GALE POSSIBLE MON INTO MON NIGHT.
.ANZ910...EAST OF THE GREAT SOUTH CHANNEL AND SOUTH OF 39N...
GALE POSSIBLE MON INTO MON NIGHT.
.ANZ830...INNER WATERS FROM CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT TO CAPE HATTERAS...
GALE TONIGHT.
.ANZ833...INNER WATERS FROM CAPE HATTERAS TO CAPE FEAR...
GALE TONIGHT.
.ANZ835...INNER WATERS FROM CAPE FEAR TO 31N...
GALE TONIGHT.
.ANZ935...OUTER WATERS FROM CAPE FEAR TO 31N...
GALE TONIGHT.

Log

Journal

12a-3a watch. Come up early as Bx & Molly were resetting sails. Wind to 20 with a big shift. Winds then fell off, small rain. The high wind likely the front of a small squall. As I finished out my watch with Scott the wind turned variable, in strength, dropping to 3k, teasing up to 7kt. 30 minutes after my watch, Bx and Sc rolled in the genny and turned on the engine. The clatter and bangs down below were replaced with the steady sound of the engine and water flowing past the hull. And sleep came.

Morning. Motoring, sailing, motoring. The wind is predicted to increase giving us a beam-to broad-reach. Winds beginning to build by noon, and we’re sailing.

Afternoon. Wind builds to 12-20. Reefed genny & main. 7-8 SOG. Seas building to 3-5’ with underlying swell from the approaching front. Reel sings with me at the wheel on watch and Bx & Scott at the bow. I whistle for their attention and grab the reel. Fish is running out fast, and we’re doing 7-8 kts. I bring him in and he runs back out twice, before he tires. I work him in, splashing from wave top to wave top. He’s slapped hard by the stern wave, 10’ away, and is torn from the hook. A small mahi, but we were going to eat him. He was clearly done. He won’t be wasted as he drops thru the 16,000 feet below us. Scott, who had a good view of him, holding me onboard by my harness, says he was 24”. The filet knife and cutting board were returned to their places below.

10pm. All of us in the cockpit. The front is at hand. Genny in. Reefed staysail out.