Today we left Magdalena bay and are heading out for a 500 mile jaunt to the mainland of Mexico.   The winds are light unfortunately and we are having to motorsail at the moment. When we were sitting down to eat lunch we saw a sunfish  (mola mola) in the water.  He just hung out so we motored back and Richard jumped in with snorkel gear and shot about 14  photos.  The water was pretty clear and this puppy was at least 200 lbs!  What a great day. Me Man, Me Get Fish I think you will be thrilled to know hat we have finally caught edible fish. It is our third straight day at sea, washing my hair with a teakettle and bucket was the planned high point of the day. I sat gazing at the horizon contemplating the joys of grease-free hair when a splash caught my eye. Actually, there were quite a few splashes. The splashes revealed themselves to be a pod of dolphin streaking toward the boat, leaping joyously out of the water as they progressed. These were smaller dolphin than I had seen so far, quite truncated and very dark in color. Quite like stretched out cannonballs. I ran forward to the bow and was greeted by the entire pod darting between our two hulls and playing in the bow(s)waves. Then I hear a WHAM, WHAM, WHAM. Yes, three WHAMS in quick succession.  Richard yells' "Get the alcohol and the bucket!" I pause for effect here to let the reader contemplate the significance of needing both alcohol and a bucket. It seems the pod of dolphins had been chasing a group of yellow fin tuna. Conveniently, for us, they chased the tuna right at our three fishing lines which we had been trolling behind us in the hopes of procuring dinner. So, now we have three tuna, all decidedly alarmed at their current state of hookage ( I was a knowledge engineer, I have the card to prove it so I believe that I am entitled to play fast and loose with the English language.) One tuna successfully cut the line, clever devil. Richard pulled in the second tuna on one of our two hand-lines, no sissy rod and reel for us, just a line and a lure. The third tuna had to wait its turn patiently while we dealt with the other. Contrary to popular belief the alcohol was not for a spontaneous two person kegger. The alcohol is to spray on the fish gills which kills the fish with a minimum of thrashing. This prevents blood and other unmentionables from completely covering the boat. The bucket is for bleeding the tuna. Tuna are red-blooded. If they are not immediately drained of blood, the meat is fouled. Yes, fishing is a gruesome business. The first tuna became sashimi and dinner. We, not being greedy sorts, let the second tuna go. I believe it swam off in quite the huff. Aikido on the High Seas , or, Why My Boat Almost Deserves a Black Belt When I left the United States to putter about on a sailboat, I sadly bid aikido farewell. Little did I know that I would acquire a new partner with which to practice, her name is Mystic Rhythms. Mystic Rhythms is a catamaran sailboat, which means she has two hulls and a lovely set of sails. The wind is her primary partner. When the wind attacks Mystic Rhythms and I have to agree on the most grounded stance (sail area and trim) with which to catch the power thrown at us and redirect that power to forward momentum. Time and again, the wind howls and shrieks through the rigging as Mystic Rhythms blends with the oncoming energy, uses what we need, and lets the rest spill harmlessly aside. High seas is the next practicing partner. With her wide (23 foot) beam Mystic Rhythms stands her ground and lets the hissing, spitting water roll harmlessly beneath her. Instead of fighting against the rolling waves the lady simply lets the energy continue on beneath her - simply lifting her hulls and setting back down with a sigh. Now, when the wind and wind waves are from one direction and the swell from another you have rondori. Three opponents all trying to take her center - whatever is a lady to do? Once again the boat has taught me about center and redirection, accepting the attack you are given and not just surviving it, but thriving. She takes the wind and lets it push her towards her destination, the waves tussle beneath her jostling but never upsetting her. I did say she "almost" deserves a black belt. The sad truth is she hasn't learned to roll. I keep telling her, keep your curve, but, she can't curve. Think round, but, she only looks at me, puzzled with her straight lines. You see, if she loses her center she will flip turtle style. She will be upside down, two hulls facing the sky. Sigh, I guess that's when I learn to redirect my energy to the escape hatch. So - keep your center, redirect energy to your favor, and please oh please, learn to roll.