Halfway Across Day 6

Monday November 20th was our day to celebrate having sailed halfway across the Atlantic.  Besides sailing as fast and as far as Altair can do in day (which is always the goal), a few other items were planned on this bright sunny day in the Mid-Atlantic. 

What could not be planned but made the day exponentially better was the catching of a Dorado fish!

 ("Dolphin, Mahi Mahi") Marc and Aaron watched this midsize female jump twice before she hit the lure hard and ran with it.  Altair was sailing at 8.8 knots with the spinnaker up which meant time was needed to get the sails reigned in and the boat slowed down.  With the boat speed slowed to 5 knots, mate Marc reeled the iridescent blue-green and yellow fish in to within several feet of the transom. 

Without a gaff at the ready, captain Clint grabbed the fishing line with both hands and lifted the Dorado up onto the aft deck.  Had the fish been bigger and with more fight it might have stripped all the line from the reel before the crew could get Altair slowed sufficiently to fight the fish.  Armed with my camera, I documented the task of killing, bleeding, and filleting this fish while trying to get little to no blood on the teak deck of this pretty white yacht. 

Fast forward to cocktail hour and the Veuve Cliquot was popped and a toast was made to half way.  Next each crew member wrote anything they chose on a small piece of paper put into the empty bottle. 

Sealed with cork and melted wax this bottle was tossed into the ocean by Bob, owner of Altair.

Also included in the bottle were Bob's contact details in hopes that whomever uncorked this bottle at a later date would be willing to reach out and let him know that it was found.  And finally, after much waiting..... the fish was served; delicious slices of sashimi and soy sauce first.  Next course was broiled dorado steaks with salt, pepper, and lemon next to pilaf and peas.

There was just enough fish to feed the 7 of us, but I would have eaten more into a state of discomfort had there been any left on the pan.