We had a scary night here even though nothing happened: Imagine a calm anchorage punctured by 35 knot gusts every 20 minutes...the whole boat shakes and vibrates, I put out most of the chain in 8m of water, all held fine. I have not got my weather sorted AT ALL. I wish you were on board to come and sort it out...When I get a longer quiet chance after christmas I will sit down and sort it out...I tried doing what they recommend in the sailmail manual but got no reports...
But our sail down here was awesome...we even caught a big Dorado whilst under full sail...my tactic now is to just sheet in all sails and then HEAVE TO...BUT, this causes the boat to drift slowly sideways and backwards, causing the fish to end up ahead of the boat off one of the bows...I tried to pull the fish down the side of the boat to the transom but it went under the boat and snapped the line on a barnacle (and took my brand new 15 dollar lure with it)...SOoooo, heaving to is not the solution either...I think I must heave to, start an engine, fight the fish (all of which I can do on my own), but Chantal will have to keep a bit of head on into the wind to keep the fish off the back...Anyway...still trying to figure out a way to do all of this singlehanded...does not seems possible with a big fish.
As you can see we are back in Costa Rican waters...but we are trying to delay I check in by a few days...lets hope the Navy don't bother us first.
We are going to pull the pick and sail down to Bahia de Culebra...10deg 35.30, 85deg43.00, probably with 2 or 3 reefs!
