I could not wait a full week for these NEWS Bulletins from the crew....enjoy, JMC
S 09.26
W 134.17
Less than 300 miles to go.....
June 13,2007 - Week Four
Day Twenty Two
Crew Gaby:
Dolphins!!!! They came!!! They like they were having so much fun in the water. One kept jumping out of the water like he was on a trampling. Sami was sitting on the bow of the boat and touched one. The dolphin and Sami both freaked out. We also saw a baby dolphin following its Mom everywhere. So cute.
The wind had died down again which isn't so great but we think we should be in Fatu Hiva by the end of the week or early next week.
Crew Anya:
I am really learning about this cup half full and cup half empty thing also. There is always a bright site to everything, if I am just willing to see it. This morning I was a little disappointed that the wind had died down and that we were slowing down from 5 knots to 2 knots. But when the dolphins came - THEY CAME!!! - I was actually glad we weren't going so fast because I really got to see them this way. If they were going fast, jumping in and out of the water, I probably would not have had such a great view of these very special animals. It has been the first time (another first for me!) that I have ever seen dolphins so up close and personal. Well, I have seen them in Het Dolfinarium (an aquarium in Holland) but it just isn't the same. This has been just Another Perfect Day!
Crew Sami:
Dolphins FINALLY came!! We saw so many too!! I was squashed on the bow (apparently the last time I was on the bow like that was a long time ago), with my legs dangling down wanting to touch one with my toes. I have never done it in the wild because before my legs were much shorter. When I touched one, it flipped out, and squirmed for a second, and dashed off. It was still cool. We are going slowly, but there is not much I can do about it. We might be in Fatu Hiva in about 3 to 4 days. COOL!! More kids!! I'm getting tired of this flopping. UGH.
First Mate:
So, who wants to do the research and tell us what type of dolphin looks like a bottle nose dolphin with the occasional spotted back AND pink lipstick on the tip of their noses!!!! Yes, pink! No trick of Mother Nature and King Neptune. They are truly pink, we saw 'em, up close and personal! Never saw THAT on National Geographic or Discovery Channel.Captain:
Well, it took over 2500 miles, but it finally happened. We have dolphins playing at the bow. Not just 2 or 3, but 15-20, all doing their bob-and-weave, sliding under the bow, dashing off only to return for another go. Must have lasted on several occasions for over an hour. Cool.