All Roads Lead To Rome

Finally the time has come for Jay Sea Dee to head back into humanity and into mainland Italy. So many decisions to be made however. First was determining if we should get more fuel. We looked and looked again at the fuel gauge and determined that we had JUST ENOUGH to get us to Rome which was about 130 miles away. Being the prudent sailors, we decide to stop in Porto Vecchio to purchase fuel because you should always have more than JUST ENOUGH fuel. And because of our history with the winds we were sure to be motor sailing with the wind on our nose. With our tanks full we leave port around 1pm.

I am sure it is due to the fact that we purchased more fuel that this was our luckiest crossing ever as the wind (which was forecast to come from the East) clocked around a bit more and came out of the South. Swoosh went the sails and off went the motor…we were sailing with the wind on our beam!!!!

Next, John deploys the fishing equipment, what the heck, right? Around 4pm…FISH ON! Being totally unprepared for the zzzzzzzzzzzzz sound we heard and ALL sails up, we just looked at each other in disbelief for those few brief seconds and then went off and running. I instantly became photographer, helmswoman, bartender and instant sail admiral. John must have fought that fish for a half hour before we could see its face. John went below only for a few seconds to get the gaff and gloves while I held that rod with the face of determination. Then I was back at the helm while John keeps telling me “Left, Hard Left” which the boat only goes so far left but you have to see the loop-de-loops on the GPS…pretty darn hilarious. Finally this darn fish which we could see was a fairly good size tuna was tiring out. John hands me the rod and gets the fish on gaff…we are home free…or so we thought. I start pouring the Grain Alcohol down the fish gills to kill it by alcohol poisoning and then in an instant…IT WAS GONE???!!! IF only you could have seen our faces. We just couldn’t figure out what had happened and I was already counting on tuna sashimi for dinner. As John was putting away the rod and lure we realize the lure had busted. Totally unbelievable…

But the trip wasn’t a total disappointment…we were back to sailing and the sunset was another of Gods gifts. Plus a whole bunch of dolphins gave us our sunset show. So all in all a great trip and we are in Rome baby. Just one more thing…don’t forget to change the courtesy flag..again.