Monday 16th April - A Bit Of A Blow 

After the amazing thunder storm of the previous evening, Monday dawned bright and clear BUT it was blowing a hooley. For the first time in at least4 years we were blown off the water. The morning was used to make final preparations for the Team Gulp entry into the World Sailfish championship. It seemed like there were dozens of reels needing to be reloaded with new line and it was a good couple of hours before everything was prepared. We then partook of a leisurely breakfast and kept an eye on the weather hoping that the wind would drop. Eventually a group of hardy souls comprising Roy, Mick, Tommy and Jim decided that they couldn't stay indoors any longer and they arranged to fish the afternoon with Captain Jack. They couldn't venture out of the harbour because of the wild seas and water temperatures had dropped from 83 degrees F to 68 F overnight meaning that the tarpon wouldn't be interested in feeding.

The fishing was indeed hard and totally unmemourable except for the fact that new boy Jim had managed to fall overboard. He was safely hauled back aboard but some of the stories told over dinner that night just have to be repeated :

"This is only the second time this has happened to me, the other time my client had applied so much sun oil that when I tried to grab him he just slipped through my hands" - Capt Jack Kelly (Skipper Windy Day)

After throwing a rope to Jim "Pass me your wallet just in case the rope breaks" - Tommy Young

After Capt Jack had dressed Jim in bright yellow oilskins after his ducking, Tommy asked him why Jim was wearing this garish setup to which Jack replied "I want to be able to see him straight away if he does it again"

More news about Tuesday fishing tomorrow...maybe even a picture or two also