Jeffie the Fish Slayer

Greetings race fans!

This is our first post since leaving Marina Del Rey - we had a "Sea-mail" single side-band modem installed on Rhiannon, but it bravely quit working as we left the harbor. So there's a week's worth of news to catch up, but first I want to brag on our first (and so far, only) fish catch of the trip.

The fish in question seems to be a striped Bonito, but didn't match what our fishing book said about the meat - we fileted this bad boy and instead of the dark, oily meat expected for a Bonito, we found a lovely light filet - a bit softer than Ahi, but we turned this guy into sashimi toute suite! No spoiling nice fish with nasty fire on this boat.

Here's a shot of the mighty fish-slayer, red in tooth and claw (and t-shirt and shorts and shoes - Who knew the old fish could have so much blood in him?)...


We got this fish right off Cedros Island on our way to Turtle Bay - that's Cedros in the background - and have been skunked ever since. I checked and we're using the right tackle, so it's just bum luck. However, the fishing is said to be very good between San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, so we intend to keep at it. Other boats have landed Yellowtail (Hamachi) and Yellowfin Tuna, as well as a buttload of skipjack and other Bonito and Mackerel.

We've also seen a lot of whales, but I have yet to get a good picture of one.

More about the sailing and the race by and by...

Getting Our Fishing Gear Together

One of the challenges on the PV race is a fishing derby for the Non-Spinnaker class boats. The organizers plan to give us a disposable camera with which we'll take pictures of the fish we catch, and the organizers will give an award for the biggest fish caught on the trip.

Now, I doubt we'll match the guys on the left here, but we do plan to take part in the derby. For one thing, some fresh Mahi-Mahi or Yellowtail would be nice to eat. But beyond that, we all spent $37 each on Mexican fishing licenses for the duration of the trip.

So I'm bringing my super-duper 8-foot ocean fishing pole and my brother in law Andrew sent me some killer lures. I went out yesterday and bought some "Mooching Rigs" - a 2-hook setup designed to be used with these little rubber squid things. The guys at the fishing shop assure me that the ocean fish are so aggressive that they'll hit these things with impunity.

To avoid hassles in the security line, I'll pick up a gaff hook and/or a long-handled net when I get to L.A. Sensible, yes?

Just a few weeks away

In 22 days, I'll fly to Los Angeles and assist in the final loading and preparation of Rhiannon for our journey. We're now sponsored by Mechanix Wear for deck gloves, in addition to Columbia Sportswear for our general clothing needs at sea. Mechanix makes these nifty lightweight gloves that are thin enough to let you do fiddly work but strong enough to last in tough conditions.

We've all obtained our Mexican fishing licenses, and my Brother-in-Law Andrew Ellis - sport fisherman and SCUBA captain extraordinaire of Kauai - has made me some killer Mahi-Mahi lures for the trip. We'll keep a fishing line off the stern all the way down the Baja coast and see if we can hook into some dinner. Andrew also sent me the ultimate killer reel for my ocean fishing pole, because that's the kind of ultra-groovy guy he is.

I also went out and found myself some fins, mask, and snorkel for some skindiving along the way. Apparently we can expect whales and all kinds of groovy sea life in Magadalena Bay and in Turtle Bay. Sadly, I don't think I'll get my supercool underwater digital photo rig in time for this trip. Once again, my failure to be a multi-millionaire has a negative impact on my plans!

I find myself thinking more and more about the trip every day - with momentary seizures of panic that I'm not doing enough to prepare. This time last year, I was spending hours each day preparing for the Alcan Winter Rally, but this time Bill and Stacy and Jack and Kerry are doing the heavy lifting of boat preparation. I'll make it up to them along the way with fish and coffee.

I continue to study the sailing books, and Stacy assures me that my bunk will be the most comfy on the boat. All in all, this race is coming into focus, and it looks really good.