[radioactiv]

[position] 24 47.817s 179 47.851e

[status] It was lovely to receive Barbara’s (Mum Watson’s) email during my shift tonight, thanks for sending an update and we hope Vicky is recovering well - plaster up to the knee definitely calls for a little bell to ring every time she needs something. Sasha will make sure she reads it to Mike in the morning. Sasha is currently working her first starting shift tonight, because tomorrow we need Mike (our captain) on helm in the morning as our chart plotter says we are only 9.5hours away from Minerva Reef. Mike needs to be on so he can decide what he wants to do, i.e. go in, or wait outside until we have more daylight. We should get there around 7ish – which is the same time as the Gulf Harbour Radio net, so we won’t call in tomorrow with a report, as we’ll be busy ‘checking-in’ to Minerva. Sasha has been on since around 8:15pm, and is trying to stay up as late as possible to give the boys a decent sleep. Mike’s up next, so Sasha will try and hold out till 1am
. It’s almost a full moon this evening, which makes it so much easier to see – I had to turn the starboard engine on about an hour ago, as the wind dropped right back, so we are back to motor sailing – again. We had nacho’s for dinner, and after the cabbage from last night, and today’s corn fritters there has been a little more wind on board.. but not the kind we actually want. The auto helm that Mike installed just days before we departed, has been an absolute gem thus far. The performance is far superior to our old flux based auto helm system. We had a fish on the lure today, and the boys are determined to teach me how to reel them in with the whole gymble (I hope that is spelt correctly, otherwise Margo will tell me off when I see her next) setup. Sasha tentatively prepared herself with all the straps and what-have-you and Mal handed her the rod, while saying don’t worry it’s only a little one. Well that ‘little fish’ only had to tug on that rod once and
Sasha was hanging on the Mal’s shirt for fear she, the gymble setup and the rod would all end up in the drink. Unfortunately because Sasha didn’t reel in fast enough, the fish managed to bite the line clean through, so there was no fish for dinner, and two rather patient but disappointed lads on board. Sasha tried to explain that she doesn’t need to be the one that catches the fish, she’ll just cook it and eat it. The boys replied, “You have to learn to be on the reel, as Mal won’t be here all the time, so Mike will manage the boat, and Sasha will manages the reel”. Sasha wondered at this point where and when this strategy had been plotted, as this was the first she had heard of it. All well on board.

[speed] 6.3knots

[heading] 014

[weather] Calm seas, the wind has dropped right back – we are back to motor-sailing at 11:10pm tonight.
[END]