[radioactiv]

[position] 28 46.377s 178 03.653e

[status] Back at the back of the pack again, another night of motoring – come on wind gods!! We lost all sight of Fusio last night, not on AIS and not on Radar, although we email each other our positions every day and plot them on the paper chart. Last nights Chicken Paprika was a raving success! The Marlin Catching SV Moonfish crew feasted on lashing of roasted golden kumera, creamy Chicken Paprika and a crisp and crunchy slaw salad. The only thing I’ll say is (based on my first Edmonds Recipe) I reckon Edmond’s recipe’s really do need a little spicing up, so from now on, I’ll be ‘free-styling’ a little extra-dextra spice and herbs to dial them up a tad more. It was delicious though so I will definitely be making that again! Mal did dishes after dinner, Sasha went straight to bed (around 7:30pm) as she had not had an afternoon nap (like the boys) and was due on lookout at 4:30am. Mike stayed up for a while and watched a surfing movie. Mal took the first looko
ut shift, then Mike took over at 1:30am, and then at 4:30am Sasha woke after a luxurious 9 hour sleep (awesome dreams!) and started her shift. At around 4:45am or maybe 5am Sasha got a wee bit of a fright when a blowhole was heard, she was enjoying her rave-party-of-one and had music blaring out of one headphone ear plug and thought she was hearing things, but once the music was turned off, sure enough a big grey dolphin shot through the black-as-night water to position itself right next to the starboard hull just metres from where Sasha was sitting. It was a big dolphin, and seemed to be by itself. Moonfish was parallel, but still quite a way to the west of the Kermadec Islands, perhaps Dippy The Dolphin was also on passage to or from the Kermadecs? Sasha and Dippy hung out for about 20mins, chatted, compared pirate notes, and then Dippy left. Sasha was over the moon about the encounter, and if it wasn’t for the tether attaching her to the helm seat, she would have run downs
tairs and woken up both Mike and Mal to let them know what was happening. For breakfast this morning (17May) we will be having Kumara Hash, Streaky Bacon and Scrambled Eggs – man oh man this passage stuff is hard ;) . All very well on board. Thanks for the emails from Pauline, Pappy and Barbara – good to hear you are enjoying our updates. I hear NZ winter has well and truly arrived – Brrrrrrr! Ps – we no longer need jackets on night watch, as it is much warmer.

[speed] 5.7knots

[heading] 342

[weather] Fine and sunny, the cumulus clouds are still dotted around the horizon in all directions. Slight swell, that we hear will get bigger as a Low pressure system west of NZ heads further north.
[END]