Flying Fish

Date & Time 29-12-2011 0000hrs (GMT +9) 
Position:- 05* 56’.5 S. 126* 50’.1 E 
Course:- 250* 
Speed:- 5 Knots 
Wind:- NW 20 Knots (Force 6 Strong Breeze) 
Sea State:- Moderate (3 to 5 feet, Waves forming with some white horses) 
Weather:- Cloudy (Up to 6/8+ cover) 
Temp 82F 


Distance to go:- 1608 nautical miles 


The Bandu Sea
The sea and wind conditions are much the same as yesterday with a steady 15-20 knot warm north west wind and slight chop on the water. It is the sort of weather that a yachtie would be very happy with.
I did see the islands yesterday and although they were only 8 miles away they were low lying and I couldn’t see any endearing features, even though the binoculars. It was a shame as it will be the last land we see for at least 4 days and I would like to have been able to report something of note.


Today's music is this wonderful live performance of a song about the end of a relationship and the bittersweet pain that comes with it. 
I think it fair to say that she has got a magnificent set of lungs on her and you can have all the flashy pyrotechnics, elaborate costumes and gyrating scantily clad dancers in the world, but when you can sing like that all you need is a piano.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri49XBQ23kA






Because we are so slow through the water I have missed one of my favourite sights at sea, which is flying fish breaking from the bow wave and gliding across the water.
A normal ship travelling at about 15 knots creates quite a significant bow wave which alerts the flying fish to danger. 
Their defence instinct kicks in and they use their slightly lobsided, but powerful, tail to launch themselves at speeds of up to 60kph from the water in an iridescent flash, then spread their wings (enlarged pectoral fins)  and glide a few inches (up to 4 feet) above the water until they perceive they are out of harms way. 
Due to their tail shape they are able to use it like at outboard motor when they get back close to the water and work it side to side to gain thrust and keep themselves in the air. 
I have watched them glide for over two hundred meters and thirty seconds or more out of the water.
The way the sunlight catches and glistens on their extended ‘wings’ and shimmers off their backs as they glide over the waves invokes an almost primeval feeling when you first see them.  


Often, in rougher or windy weather, they will end up on the deck of the ship because as they launch out from the bow-wave, in defense mechanism flight, the wind can get hold of them and whip them up onto the deck before they have a chance to correct, especially if your freeboard (the distance from the main deck to the waterline) is only two or three meters.

On my first trip to the tropics in early 1976 my job, as the most junior member of the crew, was to go out onto the main deck just before sunrise and gather up any that had landed for breakfast for those that wanted it. 
They look a bit like a blue tinged mackerel and taste similar although a tad more bony. The largest I have collected (and eaten) was just over 40cms long but normally they are about 20 to 30cms. 


There is a little more about them here with some pics


http://seapics.com/feature-subject/fish/flyingfish-pictures.html


Love and Peace


Bentley