Becalmed and swimming with mahi mahi

I wrote this as I sailed solo from Cape Cod to Maine. Am now anchored in Quahog Bay in Casco Bay.

Cynthia, Lucy, and I set out from the marina near New Bern on June 2, heading south to the sea rather than more sensibly catching the forecast heavy south winds to sail north up the ICW to Norfolk and the Chesapeake.... but we feel confined in "the ditch" and my gal was really looking forward to fishing! We anchored in Cape Lookout Bay for a couple days to wait out the winds,

then sailed even FARTHER south to round the cape and then east to round the storied Cape Hatteras before heading north. Of course, as soon as we rounded Cape Lookout the winds diminished. We crawled along, slower and slower, until we rounded Cape Hatteras, angling a little farther off-shore than normal to catch a ride on the Gulf Stream.

Now, normally, the boat moves at around five knots, so taking a detour to gain an extra two knots doesn't pencil out, but the forecast told us not to expect much wind for days, so we drifted and wafted along the Gulf Stream and the current doubled our speed.

Stifling in the heat, looking down into the liquid blue of the stream, I thought about swimming... but water a mile deep just makes me nervous somehow. Then I caught a glimpse of brilliant colors: electric blue, yellow, and bright green.... a fish! And another! And a few more! (No, I did not get ANY decent photos through the distorting lens of the water surface)

After all my reading about the fish loving to take up under floating objects and years of sailing, this was the first time I had actually seen mahi mahi (aka dolphin fish or dorado) in the water! 

In fifteen minutes Cynthia had rigged a line and the fish chased her lure... but no bites. Within a half hour she had found one they could not resist and hauled in a gorgeous fish which quickly went into the cooler.

Then we pulled out masks, snorkels, and fins and climbed into the water to see the fish face-to-face. Cynthia took loads of pics

while I worked on cleaning the boat bottom with an endless abyss below me.

This adventure alone made the sail worthwhile, even ignoring other things like
    >whales wallowing and blowing nearby
    >multiple pods of dolphins visiting and playing around the boat
    >incredible phosphorescence
    >another delightful swim the next day, although without fish
    >a large glowing solitary dolphinoid, perhaps 10 to 15 feet long, that 

           overtook the boat one night, then swam on.
    >anchoring in Narragansett Bay, a delightful and easy place to anchor and visit.
    >a visit from Ted and Daniella at the shore near our anchorage.

    >swallowtail caterpillars pupating
    >Lucy finally managing to relieve herself regularly during our week on board!

Ah, sailing adventures!