Tunnelma Mearran miehiston joukossa oli lahes riehakas onnistuneen lahdon johdosta. Ruorissa oli Jukka, joka loistavasti taktikoi lahtoruuhkassa kovalla rutiinilla. Myos auringon paiste ilahdutti meita.

 

Aikamme toinen toisiamme kehuttuamme nostimme genaakkerin ja suuntasimme kohti lantta ja Kolumbian pohjoisrannikolla sijaitsevaa Santa Martaa. Tuulet ovat olleet melko leppoisia ja eteneminen mukavan tasaista.

 

Ja sitten paa-asiaan. Lounaaksi nautimme maukkaita tonnikalarappeja. Viela tanaan tonnikala tuli purkista, mutta mikali uskominen kalastusvastaavaa Jukkaa, huomenna nautimme lounaaksi tuoretta tonnikalaa. Kalastusvehkeet viritellaan aamulla heti auringon noustessa. Illalliseksi nautimme curry kanaa ja riisia seka salaattia. Viiniksi valikoitui suht kevyt italialainen. Ruokapuolesta vastasivat tanaan veneen naisisto Kickan johdolla. Micke valitsi viinin.

 

Ensimmainen paiva isoilla vesilla sujui kaikin puolin mukavasti. Ruorissa Jukka ja Pekka, apumiehina Micke ja Tero, jotka tosin paaosin keskittyivat lukemiseen. Micke lukee Panaman kanavan historiikkia ja Tero Mandelan elamankertaa. Uskomme, etta lukemastamme on viela talla reissulla kovasti hyotya.

 

Nyt on siis vatsat taynna, ylla kirkas tahtitaivas, alla pari kilometria vetta ja muutama Rapalan uistinta aamulla odottava tonnikala. Ymparilla lempeaa avomerta. Miehistolla meneillaa iltatoimet. Hanna jo nukkuu, samoin Jaana. Kicka laittaaa yopalaa, Pekka ja Jukka kannella ja Tero ja Micke keraavat  voimia yovahtiin.

 

Mearra Nieidalla siis kaikki hyvin, joten paatamme raportimme tahan.

 

 

...and in english for the few of you who have not recognized the great value in learning Finnish!

 

The World Arc start took place today at 12:00 hours at the blast of a canon fired by the Minister of Tourism of St Lucia. The Mearra Nieida got off to a great start in the capable hands of first officer Jukka, who served both as the helmsman an tactitian at this crucial moment. At the first buoy we were in third place, out of 33 boats, trailing three bigger boats, the leader being a beautiful Swedish yacht, where the crew seemed to have recowered well from their unfortunate loss in icehockey a week ago. After having congratulated each other for a while, we set course almost straight due west towards Santa Marta in Colombia. 

 

For lunch we had delicious tuna salad wraps. Jukka ensured us that it was the last time we would have to crack open a can of tuna this trip, and he started swiftly installing the fishing rod. The next several hours were spent either following our main competitors closely, using all available electronic and optical gear or just hanging out and reading. Tero is reading Nelson Mandelas memoirs, Michel is eduating himself on the history of the Panama canal, and Kicka is reading Andre Agassis’ book. All meals of the day weree prepared by the ladies onboard in perfect team work. For dinner we had an excellent chicken curry with a side of garden salad, and Michel was electd sommelier of the day, and made the difficult choice between going red or white, which about covers the selection we have onboard. The more challenging wine duty is splitting one bottle evenly in seven glasses, which only can be administered by the stady hand of Capt. Pekka.

 

It’s pitch black, the wind is weak, we are doing maybe 4-5 knots under the most spectacular star peppered sky.