FlyingDutchman

Greetings from Diego Garcia:I have been here working away on the USNS Lopez for almost 4 months. I am getting "short" now, meaning I am about to be out of here soon, probably for good. I have been posting updates and pics to my MySpace and Facebook pages. Realizing not everybody uses that I am posting the last couple of blogs here. Additional updates and pics can be accessed at:www.MySpace.com/FlyingDutchman2/blog

If you would like to read about more sailing exploits, just click the "more" button at the bottom of the blog. And click the pics button for more pics of this place, and others. You can find more at:
http://www.facebook.com/.

Just punch in Chuck Fasst. And I have succeeded in posting one vid Up on

www.YouTube.com

Just punch in Racemup

NOTE: I have since departed this amazing place and am posting my final Sea blogs and pics of this Diego deployment to this site, "Blogger.com" This will probably serve as the final resting place in cyberspace for all of my sailin' adventures along with some pics and all of my future updates. So, again I ask you to "subscribe". It benefits me to have you subscribe. Perhaps, sometime in the far off future your subscriptions, comments and click thrus on my sponsoring ads here may help me to receive some kind of a pittance of remuneration for my efforts. Har, har!

Even if you are not into fishing. You might get a kick out of some of the shark fishing action scenes that I will be posting whenever I can next make the time to get at it at the editing desk, as the Internet service was the absolute worst in Diego and it was ALL I could do to post up what I have so far. My final vids on YouTube will show more of what goes on, on the island and the ship. So, "friend" me on YouTube or subscribe to my channel for the next vids.Feel free to hit the "Thmbs up" (or down) and leave comments. Pleeez!

Being that this is a "Blog" That means that shit is out of order when you try to read it. If you scroll down to "Sea Blog 1" you can read from the beginning accounts of my sailing adventures that were posted up a few years back. Note: Scroll down and watch to your right for "Blog Archives" and click on the earlier Blogs. If you scroll down to Sea Blog date June 16, 2011 you will see a prelude to this account of Diego Garcia - the rest of it is right below:

Diego Garcia is the place where I started my so-called shipping career in 2005. And this could very well be the place where I will end it as well. We will see how things go. And here you go - the complete written compilation of my 2011, Diego Garcia mission:

I be awishin' ye many red skies at night, Arrrrr.....

Diego Garcia 2/8/11

Life at Land’s EndThere has been scuttlebutt about the ship going to an interesting country in a while for an exercise. But rumor mostly. The military likes confusion - makes intel that much more secure. Now maybe another ship will be doing that. This ship will not traverse the Suez canal. Something to do with our payload as well as piracy but - even more so - expense. Seems we are not willing to pay the exorbitant fees the Egyptians would extract from us to traverse that canal. Is all fine by me, under the circumstances. That is one narrow stretch of water and with those steep hills on either side of that hostile territory..... No thanks! Plus, by now everybody knows what has been going on in Egypt lately.

In fact - we won't even go back thru the Philippines way due to the Malacca Straights and piracy. We will sail clear around the horn of Africa. Hell, who knows what were gonna do! All I know is this: The ship is scheduled for dry dock. I guess it will be laid up on the East Coast.

I tell you what - there is nothing like a surreal place like this to make you appreciate much more - life's little pleasures. For instance, I have a plastic water bottle I brought from the hotel in Bahrain. It was set out as a complimentary item. I stuffed it in the side of my backpack and brought it to the ship. Good thing, cuz there are NO bottled water here. So I refill it from the drinking fountain and place it in the little mini fridge. It just fits under the little mini freezer (now full of squid bait). That makes it so cold that little ice crystals form near the top. What a refreshing treat that is on a hot, sweaty day :-) !

　It's Friday

Seems there have been radical shifts in the jet stream around the planet in recent years. No concrete explanation for it. But things are different down here, I say. But, is something to do with how the jet stream swirls around the upper regions of the polar ends of the planet. Occasional wisps of the cool jet stream occasionally whisk down across the face of the planet all the way to the equator - drastically changing weather patterns in many areas worldwide. Been going on for a number of years now. Whatever kind of weather I was expecting to be around here - I guess I can forget it. It seems everything is changed.

I've been checking out some DVDs from the ship. They are made for airplanes and such, so don't have the Director's cuts outtakes and the like but at least there is a movie. Last night I found Avatar, I've been waiting for so long to see. I eagerly came down and plugged it into the computer. Only to get a message stating that my computer is from the wrong part of the world. Turns out most of these DVDs are of the overseas type that won't play on American players :-( ...So, much for life's little pleasures.

Bowling Night

I was finishing up my 1600-2400 watch a coupla nights ago and I came up from out of the holds to a huge storm. I was surprised because it had been such a peaceful night before I went down. They canceled the last launch, leaving two of our guys stranded on the isl. The following night the same thing happened again. It is Tuesday night, bowling night on the isle for this ship at the little 4 lane bowling alley. A bunch of mates like to go there and have a howling good time. I would have to wait for the 2000 launch if I wanted to go. That wouldn't put me at the alley till about 9PM. Too late, I think. Dunno if I'm up to that activity just yet anyway.

One Stuck Lizard

I'd been painting this frame work last night and the Bosun asked me to touch up a spot they found underneath when they tipped it up. I get over there and right on top on the corner of it sits a little lizard. He's stuck - all 4 feet and belly. He evidently crawled onto it when it was layed over, drying last night. He had his chin resting on a forepaw (claw?). And was twitching. I whipped out my knife and proceeded to carve off his hind feet and belly (and NO I didn't cut off his feets!). So I had ahold of his tail and was able to carve free his front feets leaving no more that a little belly scales stuck to the paint job. He immediately slithered to the crate beneath. Later I saw him scampering across the deck toward a hatch cover. Next time I looked he was gone for good. But he has a black tail now. So, I will be keeping a lookout.

It's Fry Day No, not THAT day. But it is another day now. Recently, I completed that Emergency Diesel Generator job I was put on after I arrived (the pic posted on Facebook). I was refurbishing the exhaust stack which is at the stern where I could often get protection from the sun. Now I have been moved up more toward the bow where the sun really beats down. It has cleared up today. Its almost a Dog day except for a little breeze. I got a little burn. So, I expect there will be many fry days.

Feb 15, 2011

Soon I would be more concerned about other things such as how I would get through this experience, working every single day for four months, mostly 12 hour days in this hot place. I can now say that I have made it over one week. If I make it 2 weeks, I should be good to go as a general rule out here. Yes, comms are difficult out here - then you stack on top of that more computer probs with my laptop. I am able to get online some and plan to post occasional updates and hopefully I will eventually get some video edited and posted to YouTube.

Anyone reading this who may have a comment, an experience to share , a joke or whatever - feel free to comment some how or whatever.

1/24/2011

This morning we headed out to sea. All the ships here do that regularly. We will be back long before this ever gets posted. Getting underway is not an “all hands” operation like most ships who tie to piers. Here the Chief Mate, the Bosun and a couple others go to the bow and pull the anchor as the Captain, Mate and AB on watch steer it away.

As I watched from down on the rail I thought I spotted a sub being led into the mouth by the pilot boat as a squall approached. This sight again gave me pause for thought - just how mighty our military power is and the importance of military might to so many countries around the world.
Which leads to this thought - Given the highly technological age in which we live in now and the progression of civilization down through the centuries; In comparison to the wild animal kingdom - just how far HAS mankind progressed as a species?

Soon the squall enveloped the sub and spread across the mouth of the lagoon. I watched the squall line as it approached our ship. The breeze along with the encroaching clouds brought with them a refreshing chill in the air - from the earlier tropical sun. With these squall lines, you can just about count down when the first raindrops will hit. I could tell it was another Sou’easter as the ships at anchor ahead of us swung around their starboard anchor chains to face into that direction. All the ships behind would soon follow suit - then swing back as the squall departs as if choreographed.

I was reminded of yesterday when a small one came through and a small rainbow became perfectly visible off the starboard stern. We could see both the beginning and the end of it almost within grabbing distance. We searched in vain for a pot ‘o gold. We are headed out into the ocean where wild fish do run wild. The fish out here are behemoths and I will have plenty more to say about this. Anyone who fishes will want to friend me here for updates. I expect you will be amazed.

We are about to have a fire and boat drill. Now I will have to get out for that. I am second man on the hose meaning I have to suit up - something I have to get better at.

WTF What the HELL is going on here???

Sea Blog 2/25/11

A Fishin' Mission in Diego Garcia

This is the scenario: You will be transported to a tiny military island far out into the middle of the Indian Ocean. You will remain there living and working seven days a week on a ship laden with all sorts of bombs, missiles, tanks and such. Your mission will be ..... Fishin'. You will fish for all manner of nasty, toothy critters using whatever methods necessary and any gear you can get your hands on, whenever and wherever you can. Is that clear?

As we headed out into the ocean and took a right, the captain commented on how the submarine that had visited a couple weeks ago had put down all the fish. I was surprised by that - never would have thought. And somewhat dismayed. It figures I'm always getting out when the fishing is bad. But that soon changed - to all of our surprise.

I was thinking, a great day for a boat ride all the same, as I took in the gentle ocean and blue skies as we left the jaws of the bay and followed the narrow strip of land that comprises the northeast corner of the island. It is mostly all unspoiled jungle. Nobody goes there. Read the earlier blogs down below to learn more about this unique island. But, as it turns out, I didn't have much time to enjoy the scenery.

Captain Ramir and mate McCoy had put the lines out soon after we rounded the corner. I had 2 outriggers and 3 stern lines all to myself. None of the other crew was able to get in on the trip - not that, that was a problem as these charters are way cheap for a trip that gives you shots at Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Dorado, several kinds of Tuna, Giant Trevally, Barracuda and Shark among others.

Ratatat tat went one of the Penn 50s as a big Wahoo went to work on the business end of the line. I grabbed that big game rod and fought it to the rail quick enough and the first Wahoo was in the boat. What happened next was a bit of a blur. I remember fighting another one in, in short order and then a bit of a lull. I recall thinking that it was a good day as I had then boated one more Wahoo than I had ever caught, the only other one having been out of this very same boat six years earlier with captain Lito who ran the boat back then. I never thought I would return to this island after that. I am still amazed that I am here again.

After a radio conversation the Cap't. said we are pulling in the lines to go to Horse Point. Then that was when all hell broke loose - or fishing heaven - however you want to put it. Let me put it this way: every fisherman dreams of having that day - the fishing day of his life, the one that tops all others.

We all proceeded to get very busy and sweated heavily through the next 3 hrs as we worked at a record catch. We all fought fish, the captain and the mate as the rods went off sometimes two and three at a time. We lost as many as we got in - one breaking the line. Then there was the shark attack. I had to reel like hell and plane the small Wahoo across the water and beat the shark :-)

I was the one in charge of running up to the bow and opening the hatch door so the mate could toss the fish into the fish box. That proceeded to happen many times as I grabbed fish and dragged them up there as well. Some times we had as many as 3 fish on the deck. Rods, lines and lures strewn about helter skelter. We were like pirate buccaneers with the deck awash in blood.

We were so busy we didn't really pay much attention to the ensuing dog day. This would turn out to be the first day the sea breaze died and the hot sun and tropical humidity set in. I would become much more cognizant later as I realized the sweat that was sticking all my clothes to me would not go away. But it was some time in the middle of that when I realized that I was having that day.

Some time through all of this, during a short lull, I suggested to the Cap't. that we might make a pass down through Barracuda Flats. I wanted to put my rod out in hopes of battling one of those freaks of nature. But the bite picked up again. Later the Cap't. remarked maybe I might want to just stick around all the fish. I readily agreed as the realization of a record day was setting in on me.

Once it hit straight up noon, it was time to pull in the lines and call it a day - and what a day. As the two 250 hp mercs sent us skipping across the gentle swells, The Ca'pt., Mate and I raised our water bottles to a toast. The mate commented about the boats trim. When we had begun this trip, the bow rode high in the water. Now it was plowing through with the weight of what would turn out to be a whopping 16 Wahoo and one Yellowfin Tuna!

Once we had unloaded at the dock and all the pics were taken and the fish distributed to various Filipino workers on the island and the rest filleted up for my ship's crew I was beat as hell - totally wasted. Pulling in all those big fish was more work than I've EVER done fishing. Thank the sea gods, I had help with all those fish. It took 3 guys and a wheelbarrow to make two trips up to the cleaning station. I happily tipped the fish cleaners and they collected all the heads and the tails. No doubt the village dined well on fish head soup that night.

Later the captain mentioned that rain that had fallen in torrents the day before. That same rain that had caused me to take refuge in the Seaman's Club the night before while on the island. He said that it probably had cooled down the ocean, triggering the hungry fish to suddenly go on the bite. I mentioned that also I had scheduled this trip to parallel the incoming tide. Someone else mentioned the phase of the moon could have had something to do with it (one day before full moon). Or maybe the fishing gods - who knows - it was just my time.

Then began the odyssey of what to do with all that meat as I took a taxi to Jake's where crew members were arriving to set up for their Friday afternoon barbeque. There was no way to keep all the meat cold. I took the taxi to the Bike rental where I rented a large cooler and returned and again left to go rent myself a room for the night at the BOQ. I had received permission to spend the night off the ship which was absolutely fantastic! I plopped down in that air conditioned room and immediately sawed off an hour or so of badly needed stupor.

I returned a couple of hours later and chomped on a bunch of that fish that they had cooked. Nightfall came then most of the crew returned to the ship or went elsewhere. The XOP Band started up and remaining crew members moved up into the venue dragging me along and not allowing me to get away to my room. Partying ensued. People go absolutely crazy out here. I can't begin to describe it.

We ended up at the Brit Club where the action doesn't start till later. Just before midnight, my shipmates barely made it to the last bus that would take them to the midnight launch. I thumbed a ride back to my room shortly thereafter. Not returning to the ship. I had never before dreamed of being able to do that.

The following morning I was able to haul my ass out of the rack on time and hop a taxi to the 0730 launch. As I clambered aboard, the 2nd. mate on watch commented, "Hrumph so you make others carry your fish back while you stay ashore, eh?" I replied that all that fish was too heavy for me to carry. :-) Indeed we had Sushimi and Wahoo soup for lunch the next day and grilled Wahoo for dinner a couple of different nights. For days now I have been basking in the afterglow of my fantastic catch like a regular Ernest Frigging Hemingway.

Note: Any fishermen reading this might want to keep an eye out for notice when the YouTube, "Fish Fin Addicts" vid is posted of this trip. You will get a kick out of it.

3/3/2011 WARNING! WARNING Pirates attacking!

We are currently under a 12 hr. sail alert due to the world events currently taking place over on this side of the planet. Hopefully we won't end up sailing anywhere suddenly. Not to mention Bahrain, the place I was at not so long ago. Our mail comes through there as well as most of the personnel that are transferred in and out of this island. Many crew members have found themselves stuck aboard the ships beyond the length of their contracts. I am just hoping my new video camera I ordered from the internet will find its way to tyhis ship through all of that. I need to properly document this experience. Because, I absolutely expect to never see this place again once I reach the end of my time here in a little over two months.

As various countries continue to rattle their sabers and others break out in revolts - something else is taking place. The Pirates of Somalia have ramped up there lethality in the Gulf of Aden. Everyone has heard the sad stories of families being abducted and murdered. The pirates have extended their range. There have been a number of recent run-ins with the Navies of the U.S. and several other countries. A number of Pirates have been killed and their boats blown up. One South Korean Captain remains on life support after being shot five times.

The operating range of the pirates has now been officially extended to fifteen hundred miles from Somalian shores. That places this island within their range. Pirates are being intercepted closer and closer. More and more Merchant vessels have chosen to alter their courses to sail to the South of this island and down around the southern horn of Africa - bypassing the Gulf of Aden and Suez canal altogether. We are now allowing vessels to sail within twelve miles to the South of the island. Logic tells us that where the merchant vessels go - the pirates will soon follow.

At any rate, officials decided that it might be high time for an island wide exercise on how to react to an intruder entering through the mouth of the lagoon. COMSRON staff members came aboard several days ago and gave us the layout. We are the lead ship in the harbor, meaning that we are anchored closer to the mouth than the other ships here. So we could be the first ones to encounter invaders. I can vouch for the possibility of such a thing due to an experience I had aboard ship here six years ago, when I spotted boats outside the island early one morning on the RADAR when we were underway. But I won't get into that now.

All ships have a lockdown procedure they use for intruders., See my earlier blogs for more on that procedure. Click on the "More" button at the bottom to open the earlier blogs from 2008. Essentially, most of the crew take refuge deep inside the ship while those on deck take positions to defend. We don protective gear and arm ourselves and take up strategic positions around the ship. It is necessary for us to drill on this to get familiar with the procedures. Island wide is another thing.

Essentially, this island includes members of all of our armed forces as well as the Merchant Marines, British armed forces and a few thousand island workers, mostly Filipinos and Mauritians. Defense of the island is crucial.

The exercise was supposed to go something like this: A small craft is spotted by our ship, entering the mouth from the ocean. We alert the necessary authorites and take all of our defensive measures. Other craft are deployed from the harbor to intercept the intruder. Meanwhile, other intruders have breached the island and a manhunt gets underway. There are fire fights. There are casualties. There are prisoners taken in the jungle. And whatever else transpires. And the whole island gets to experience this intruder exercise.

The day comes to do the exercise. Our ship sounds the alarm. Myself and the rest of the deck crew report to our stations and don our battle gear and weapons We take position and wait - and wait. We are ordered to take cover, so we hide behind structures and peer out toward the sea - and wait.

Finally word comes to the Captain over the bridge radio - secure drill. It seems the seas were a bit to rough on this particularly windy day for the small craft to make the run in. The entire island exercise was keyed upon this first event taking place and then a long list of scenarios would take place in sequential order. So everything was canceled and we all went back to our ship's work.

The next day the COMSRON staff disembarked the ship.

3/10/2011 SHARK! SHARK! Oh my God OMG
I think that one of the dreams that most fishermen have, is to catch a big fish and then a bigger fish and at some point to catch the biggest fish of their lives. I know that has always been my dream. I can still vividly recall the wonder of fishing in the saltwater when I was a little boy visiting my dad up in the Puget Sound. There were big fish swimming in there, everyone knew that. The anticipation of what monster fish might bite that hook next kept me going day after day. The years went by and I never lost that wonder inside of me. No doubt that is part of the allure which makes life bearable at this little tiny island so far away from home.

Back home, we generally have an idea of what we are fishing for and around how big it might be. For instance, when I fish in the Salmon River in Lincoln city, OR., I am generally going after Chinook Salmon. I have an idea about how big they might be and my biggest fish of all time was a 42 pound Chinook salmon out of that river.

This brings me to where I am right now. So, if you have read my earlier see blogs or have viewed my vid I have recently released, you know just where I am. I am in the British Indian Ocean Territory, smack in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The island is Diego Garcia and I live and work on a ship that is usually anchored in the bay inside of the island. There are four boats that are outfitted to take us out fishing in the ocean outside of the island. We have the Ocean Master 1 and we have the Boston Whalers 1,2 and 3.

My last vid and sea blog dealt with my phenomenal success with Wahoo I had on the Ocean Master 1. This time I found myself hiring the Boston Whaler 3 with Capt. Manny and his Mate Earl. This time I had two of my crewmates with me, AB Brady and AB Hanna. It is not easy for the three of us to get our schedules together, however we managed to all get Friday morning off. Imagine our dismay upon waking at the crack of dawn Friday morning to a Condition II storm alert in the bay. It was a windy choppy morning and a storm lurked out in the ocean, keeping all small craft in port. I decided to take a chance and reschedule for the afternoon trip. I was not particularly excited about it because I would miss half of the incoming tide. But the storm cleared and the three AB's were able to head on out into the ocean.

Action came our way shortly after putting our lines in. All three of us had a hand in fighting fish. Dave Hanna pulled in a nice yellowfin. Then Dave Brady would pull in a real nice Wahoo. Those two fish would later provide sushi and sushimi for the ship's crew. Bonito also struck our lures.

When it came time for me, it would be "game on". A big fish struck and the fight was on. I am still dealing without a video camera and making do with the cameras at hand. We did manage to get some video of our battles with the fishes that they and I hope to have another vid out onto YouTube soon. But my "hat cam" was rolling when the big fish struck. Line peeled off of the big game Penn 80 reel as something big headed for the open sea. The video would later show that I would end up battling this white tip shark for 30 min. When it was all over, the captain and mate had unhooked the shark at the side of the boat and off it swam.

One would not want to keep such a shark out here or face a $10,000 fine. The sharks, along with the Marlin, lobsters, coconut crabs, chickens, donkeys, one wild horse and a myriad of other creatures are protected on this island. The captain later estimated the weight of the shark at about 120 pounds. So, that makes that shark about three times as big as the biggest fish I've ever caught before! So, one more check off from my fishing bucket list.

The battle with that shark beat me down bad. I can say that I learned plenty about how to fight something like that and be patient. And do not be concerned about anyone else that must wait while the battle goes on. Because what you are really doing is providing them with outstanding entertainment. Indeed that shark battle was the high point of the trip and my poor left arm suffered the consequences for three days later. It got way overextended trying to pull that thing in when it did not want to come in. Next time I will know better. That is, if there EVER is another time!

But, I was not done providing entertainment as I would soon find out, to my dismay. One of the things I insisted on doing was putting my steelhead outfit off the Stern. Another item on my fishing bucket list is to catch something with that out there on one of those boats. Everybody laughs and scoffs at the small outfit which seems so tiny in comparison to the big game gear on the boat. But, this is just one of those things I want to do. And then it happened...

The little rod went down and the fight was on. The captain slowed the boat and brought in some lines so I could fight the fish. We knew it would not be a big fish but it was a bit of a battle on the outfit and took a while to get it in. I cannot begin to describe my surprise once I had finally battled it to the boat and mate had no need of a gaff as he swung aboard a Bonito that was hooked right through the back! The fish had seemed bigger as I had been dragging it through the water sideways. AB Brady snapped a picture of the evidence before I could hide it. So, on the one hand I checked off another item on my fishing bucket list, however I will have to suffer the embarrassment from here on out.

I suppose that means that I am not finished putting that rod in, when I go out on these charter boats. I suppose I should pause for a moment, I wish I could come up with the words to better describe the experience of battling the biggest fish of my life. It is difficult to describe to those who do not fish. I will just say that, that shark was an awesome brute and suffering the beat down by it was absolutely exhilarating! Nuff said.

So, we concluded another fishing adventure. Toasts were had all around and we all agreed that we had thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Once we had gotten all of our fish filleted up, we headed to our ship's Friday barbecue over at Jake's Place. There, the chief mate sliced up the yellowfin tuna into sushi for all of us to enjoy. We continued to enjoy ourselves along with our other crewmembers hanging out at the beach and playing volleyball in the sand. And then a huge rainstorm blew in. And I won't go any further into that.

Be sure and catch my next sea blog entitled "Sharks, and More Sharks."

3/20/2011 Sharks, and More Sharks

Previously I have been covering fishing trips out in the ocean, chartered on the boats that are available to us here. My fishing mission is to get out there is much as I can in the four months that I am here. Now more than two months of that are gone. Scheduling these trips is not easy, as we need to get our schedules together when those of us can get off at the same time in the morning or afternoon for these four hour trips. The other problem cropping up more and more is the weather. We are moving closer and closer to wintertime over here below the equator. My last attempt was canceled due to another condition II storm warning. Then our ship put to sea for more maneuvers.

I have mentioned ship fishing. This is another kind of fishing that is done a lot here in Diego Garcia, every ship anchored out in the bay has fishermen that fish from it at various hours of the day and night. Most of the ships have Filipino riders, many of which fish with their hand lines, most of the ships will allow four islanders to come aboard on the launch and fish from the ships during the day and evening. Those of us who live and work aboard ship have the option of fishing in the middle of the night if we can muster up the motivation and energy. This is something that some of us have done. There is also the other subject of ocean fishing that many of the ships here do.

Last Thursday night we fished off the back of the ship in the middle of the night 3 AM, there was a storm going on. We had southerly winds, which turned the ship around 180° on its anchor chain. That placed us in a whole new area in the bay. So we ended up over some coral reefs or something and there were a lot of snappers. I was fishing with AB Doug. He started pulling in the snappers left and right. They were pretty nice ones very edible. We put them on ice in the cooler up on A deck. I told Doug that I wanted to make sure that the crew got the opportunity to eat these fish. As usually, the Filipino riders get the fish, and they cook them up and eat them themselves. They can whip up quite a feast in an electric skillet back on the fantail. This time I wanted to see if we could get the fish over to the island for our ship's, crew's Friday barbecue at Jake's place.

Fishing in the middle of the night aboard the ship is something I've been working up to since I came aboard. We work long hours, here, many 11 and 12 hour days. It takes a while to build up the strength that energy after you arrive at this tropical island to be able to keep up that kind of pace. If you are not one who spends a lot of time here. Of course, I spent a lot of time working with these vids and blogs. My goal now that I am becoming adjusted is to get out there late at night as much as possible because it is ...late at night when the biguns bite.

Those of you who have watched by videos over at YouTube.com (search word: Racemup ), know that there are big fish around here, in the ocean for sure. But big fish are not always caught off the ships all that often. There are a few specialists who managed to get some and you will see my pics and vids posted to MySpace, Facebook and YouTube that attest to that. Stay tuned to this blog about more on that subject.

I must mention the battle I had that night. I found myself in another shark fight this time, instead of being out in the ocean. It was for right here at the back of my ship. I was using my travel, Ugly Stick and spinning reel loaded with 20 pound test spider wire. I tied on an old beat up jig that was tried at tested when I was last here six years ago, and it caught several fish when I was crewing for the Bennet. I was casting and getting it along the bottom with a strip of Bonito on the hook.

It did not take long after the fish struck that I was sure it was a short that spider wire was telegraphing of the line. Every movement of the fish. I could feel the site to side to side swimming action of the tail. And every now and then it would violently shake its head from side to side. I thought that fish all around the back of the ship. It seemed as if the fish was swimming in circles. It did not take me down under the hull or cut me off in the prop. I fought it for quite a while gaining some as it would take back all my gains. But it was those violent head shakes that finally did me in. There is just no stretch in that Spider Wire super braid. The thin wire hook on that half ounce jig finally straightened out. I really do hate it the way those jigs are made with such flimsy little books. Obviously, the fish was hooked on the side of the mouth as a shark attack generally ends up with a bit off bait. Later, I was telling the Bosun about who said that it indeed probably was a shark and all I was doing was annoying It. Indeed, that probably was the case, so my quest will continue to hook and battle, a shark to the ship. I just want to capture that on film and let him go his way. Indeed, there is a $10,000 fine if one were to keep a shark here.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,See my Youtube vids for more action

3/30/11

WARNING WARNING Pirates everywhere!

You will be amazed at the proliferation of Pirates throughout the far side of the world. Read this report on the latest...

A maritime security hotline has been established to track Pirates terrorists and robbers, currently piracy is occurring in the following areas:

Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh. Pirates attacking ships anchoring. Indonesia. The Malacca Straights have traditionally been a haven of Pirates, but activity has subsided here due too heavy patrolling, as it ramps up elsewhere. Malaysia, South China Sea, Singapore's Straits, Vietnam, Red Sea, Nigeria; well armed and violent Pirates are attacking with injuries. Cameroon, to Duala, Guinea; Pirates dressed in military uniforms. Somalia, Gulf of Aden, southern Red Sea, Oman, Arabian Sea, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles, Indian ocean; vessels being hijacked some being converted into motherships. South Central America and the Caribbean, Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, West and South India, Maldives.

RECENT REPORTS:

3/29: Gulf of Aden: four Pirates in white skiffs chased a product tanker onboard security returned fire attack aborted.

3/22: Malaysia. 10 boarded a tug towing a barge taking crew of 10 hostage and hijacking the vessel on 3/24 they released the crew and a life raft with food, water, passports and some money. By then, the tugboat had been repainted to a green color.
3/28: Oman: Pirates in two skiffs fired RPG's and weapons on tanker tanker took evasive maneuvers fired rocket flares and activated fire hoses. Pirates boarded and hijacked the tanker.
3/27 Oman: a mother ship launched a skiff approaching a tanker onboard security team fired warning shots. Attack aborted.
3/26 Grand Comoro Island: 3 to 4 speedboats chased a containership master took evasive maneuvers. Pirates approached various directions, and close attack aborted.
3/26 India: five robbers boarded and anchored product tanker via the anchor chain duty crew saw the robbers on the forecastle deck and raised the alarm. Seeing alert crew. The robbers escaped with the ships stores.
3/25 India, two skiffs launched from a mother vessel with seven armed pirates chased and fired upon a bulk carrier. Armed security team on board fired warning shots. Attempt aborted.
3/24 Oman: eight pirates armed with RPG and AK-47 rifles in a white skiff chased a tanker underway. Warning shots fired as chase continued second time. Attempt was aborted.
3/24 Oman: Pirates in skiffs chased a bulk carrier vessel enforced anti-piracy measures and the skiffs aborted the attempt. Later the skiffs returned and succeeded in boarding vessel. All crew members entered into the citadel. Further report awaited.
3/23 India: heavily armed pirates in two skiffs and a mother ship chased and fired upon a containership master raised alarm sounded ships whistle, increased speed and took evasive maneuvers and managed to outrun the skiffs. Sustained bullet holes in superstructures.
3/22, Gulf of Aden: a bulk carrier was chased and fired upon by pirates in a skiff. Security team prevented Pirates from boarding the vessel.
3/21 S. China Sea: armed with long knives approached a general cargo ship. They attempted to board using a long bamboo pole attached with a book. One of the Pirates tried to board the ship, but was unsuccessful because of the presence of the bo'sun who was holding an iron bar. Attempt aborted.
3/21 Mogadishu: tanker chased by one mother vessel and two skiffs fired upon by RPG and evasive maneuvers managed to evade the boarding. Continued firing resulted in injuries to two crew members. One serious. Vessel sustained damages as well.
3/21 Oman: chemical tanker chased by five pirates armed with AK-47s in a white skiff to Pirates caught the ship's side, cut the razor wire with a small tool and came on board while the other three Pirates remained in the skiff. All programmers took shelter in the citadel. Pirates then made their way to the bridge and entered the bridge by breaking the glass and the protecting bars. Crew remained in the citadel for 3.5 hours, and later search the ship and found no pirates on board all crew members and the tanker are safe.
3/20 S. China Sea: eight pirates armed with long knives in a speed boat boarded a general cargo ship underway. They took hostage. The duty officer and brought him to the Masters. The Pirates stole the ships cash properties and Masters personal belongings and left the ship after 20 min..

This is the latest reported activity. There has been plenty more prior to this, some of the reports are quite amazing. Ships have been boarded by as many as 40 Pirates and hijacked to be turned into motherships. By now everyone should be aware of the recent murders of couples and families on pleasure craft. I am sure that none of the above has been in the news that reaches the Americas. So there you have it, pirate activity for the past week, in this part of the world.

Note: It should be noted that all attacks cannot be regarded as factual as some ship's captains and crews have been known to rob their own ships and blame pirates.

If'n ye would like to read more about seafarin things, ye can check out me sea blogs over at MySpace.com/FlyingDutchman2/blog

just click on the button what says "more blogs." If'n ye would like to see some videos about the fantastic fishin out here around Diego Garcia and other seafarin things, go to:

YouTube.com and look up "racemup."

4/8/2011 Diego Garcia

A Day in the Life of an AB Sailor

I stand The 8 to 12 Sea watch when the ship is underway. There are six ABs on the ship. We stand, watches round-the-clock, meaning that there are two ABs standing a four hour watch at any given time. My watch is 8-12 AM and 8-12 PM. There are many sights to see around this little atoll in the Indian ocean. Last night when I came to the bridge to relieve the watch at 2000, we had a so-called Super Moon. Which may have had something to do with the nice sunset we saw. The lights that shown over the island as the Sun was setting behind it sort of resembled the Araura Borealis. And the moon came up. Looking at it through the binoculars we did see the faces on the moon. They say the Moon was the closest it is going to get to the Earth for the next 12 years.

The ships anchored up inside the island fire up and steam on out into the ocean on a regular basis and do maneuvers and go out to the 20 mile line to dump our graywater and other selected refuse. Our ship sailed a southerly course for a couple of hours, then turned around and backtracked the same course. Off in the distance, beyond the horizon I could see distant lightning flashing. It reminded me of the dry lightning , we used to see in the Persian Gulf. It was probably the result of a tropical depression that was several hundred miles south of the island called "Ex Cherono." It would light up a section of the southern skies. We could see the thunderheads outline when it would flash. The flashes were so bright they reminded me of a nuclear burst. Even after the ship turned around and headed back in the opposite direction, we could see the peripheral flashes alongside the ship.

This morning it came time to sail the ship back into the harbor and again drop anchor in our appointed spot. Ever since I came aboard the ship. I have had the watch when the ship was coming back in. Being that I was new on the ship, I was made to stand by while the other, AB would steer the ship in to the Anchorage. This time, my watch partner was at the helm as we approached the sea buoy. And, the Capt. said for me to stand by again rather than relieve my partner, so as to allow him to continue driving the ship on in, the same as he had done the last time. I was thinking under my breath that it was a good thing that the Capt. did not let me anywhere near the throttle on this thing because at this point this race car, dude would show them no mercy! But then, the Capt. decided to go ahead and allow me to steer for a while until we got closer into the channel.

As I drove it on in. I surmise that the Capt. was taking note the times he glanced at the course on the Radar and saw that it was dead on. As we were entering the jaws he said that everything was looking good and that I should continue at the helm and my watch partner would stand by to the side, just in case. So I ended up driving the ship all of the rest of the way to the Anchorage, whereupon the Capt. looked over and said, "good job, Mr. Palmer."

I mean really, for a guy who races around cars how tough could piloting a 50,000 ton ship be? Actually, at times when we are out at sea, I have spent quite a few hours driving the ship. "In hand." That is, I take it off the Gyro or the "Mike" as we call it. Doing this in order to get a feel for the ship and how it reacts to my direction. One does the same thing with a racecar. So I was comfortable with how the ship would respond to my steering. Shortly after the ship was anchored up, the sea watches were secured at high noon. And we revert back to the regular deck work that we do while the ship is at anchor.

Once we are at anchor. Our watches revert to eight hour anchor watches. Every three days. We either stand the midwatch, which is midnight until 8 AM or the 16 to 24 watch, which would be 4 PM until midnight. These watches consist of roving the ship and climbing down into all of the holds to the bottom of the ship and then back up. The rest of our working hours are spent working out on the deck of the ship. I work 11 to 12 hour days. Most every day.

Once I was relieved from the helm, I went on down to the Chow Hall for lunch. The way it works on that ship is that there is a daily menu. We go in, sit down and order from the stewards assistant (SA). One of the quirks of the ship has to do with butter. In the morning when you go for breakfast. There are bowls of little squares of butter on every table, set out for us to put on our toast and pancakes and such. But for lunch and for dinner, There never is any bowls set out so that we can butter our rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans or whatever. Nobody seems to mind. It seems weird to me that more people would not want to have butter on these things, as I think most people prefer that. Anyway, I always go back into the galley get one of the bowls out of the cooler and set it out for us to use so that people can have butter for their dinner rolls.

So I went back to grab a bowl of butter, and the SA asked where I was going with that butter. I said, I'm bringing it outside in case anybody else wants some. And he said to put that butter back into the refrigerator. And if anybody else wants some. They can come back here and get their own. I was a bit put back by being ordered around by an SA, which usually doesn't happen on a ship. But then again, one must stop and think about who it is who is serving you the food. Is that really the person that you would want to piss off? This tall, lanky brutha is a little bit edgy about some things and seems to maybe have it in for me a little bit. But what can one do about what someone else does. When that someone else is the one who is serving you Your food? So I buttered up my roll and went about my day. I would have eight more hours to put in before my day was done. As we can put in four more hours of overtime after we complete our watch.

As I went about my day out on deck. The beads of sweat dripped down my forehead and off my nose and down onto the deck. Where I was chipping away at the paint with a paint scraper. It is hot over here 7° South of the equator. As I sat there on a milk crate, banging away at the deck, it gave me time to ruminate about my day. Mere hours ago, the Capt. of the ship had been complimenting me on the good job I did bringing it on in. And here I sit, scraping paint off the deck in the hot Sun. Aw, but that is the life of an AB sailor.

As it came time for dinner, AB Thong motioned me aside, pointing toward a workbench where something copper lay upon it. It was my twisted up bracelet pretty well mangled. He said that he had seen me wearing that bracelet before and now there It was. I wondered about when I had lost it, and where and how long ago as I usually take it off when I'm working, but evidently did not. Somewhere along the line, and it had been living out here on deck Ever since it parted company with my wrist. A few tools and some polish later, I had it ready for wearing again.

After dinner, I reported out on deck again to find that I was the only AB reporting out for overtime. This is not the first time. I guess I am more motivated to put in the overtime to cover the expense of my fishing forays. I probably work more hours than anybody else on the ship. This time it is me and Wally gator, the Dayman working overtime. "Hello, Chuck E cheese, don't work too hard." He says. He is always telling me not to work too hard.

"That would be Chuck The Hammer Cheese to you." I remind him. He gave me that nickname when he spotted me twirling a hammer in the air like I often do with tools. So I always remind him of the entire nickname now. This night. I will be prepping and primering the area I had been chipping on up until 7:30 PM, at which time I will end the workday that began at 7:30 AM..

Once I have suitably recovered from my work day, this evening. I am anxious to bring my laptop into the crew's lounge where I can attempt to go online through the Wi-Fi service provided by Diego Garcia Wireless on the island. This night I was sitting there for 20 min. clicking on the refresh button, trying to get the login page to come up, the same procedure we all go through every time we try to go online. It is the most pathetic service you could ever imagine. We all want to connect with the outside world. This is the only way. It is a real crap can product the island provides for us but we are forced to put up with it.

I give up on the hopeless computer task and retire to my state room to try to get a little rest. Later on tonight. I will be back out on deck this time at the Stern fishing. And all of that fishing entails a whole nother story. And you can check those out here on Facebook or my sea blogs at MySpace and on YouTube.

So, there you have it - a day in the life of this AB Sailor.

Side note: A day later, It was interesting for me to note that every table now had a bowl of butter for lunch, as well as for dinner it. It has remained that way since.

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Excerpts from letters home:

I feel a little bit strange. Right now as this is the first time that I'm sitting around in the afternoon on the ship with nothing to do. I had midwatch last night and work. My overtime morning until noon. Then I crashed for five hours solid. I was the most exhausted. I've been so far, probably. I don't suppose that would have anything to do with me taking a few hours to fish in the middle of the night last night during my watch. Fishing has been crazy around the ship these past few days over the weekend, the same four Islanders have been coming to the ship and fishing off of the turntable at the rear of the ship and they have been doing fantastic catching these nice Jack's and rainbow runner's the same guys have come back now for four days straight. Well, maybe five by now, as they are out there right now, or at least three of them are. I don't know how these guys arranged to get onto which ships out here. I have been told that they pay the launch drivers small bribes, a couple of dollars or so. Or maybe fish who knows fish around this place is like currency. Anyhow.

I guess trying to figure out what and when. Makes fish bite is a question that many have studied but I think here it is the new moon, it causes the highest tide change between the low and high tide. That is my best guess, but I don't know now I'm concentrating on trying to catch these big jacks around here. They are so hard just to get to bite and then trying to land them is another story. I have never, EVER landed one yet. Two nights ago I fought two big ones, almost to the end and thought I had them whipped only to have them bite off my books. Both times, just like all the other times that happened. So I am working on ways to rectify that now. But it is not easy, it's quite often they are line shy, when it comes to trying to use steel leaders. After three months out here the fishing seems to be what sustains me, but also exhausts me at the same time. Well, I can say that I have some fantastic shark footage and I was lucky to get that. Some said it is Discovery channel quality. I do not expect that I will ever again witness some of the things I have seen out here.

Last night was frustrating in a way. There were big jacks swimming all over the place, frolicking around on the surface they were feeding on some kind of Hatch some kind of mayfly like dragonfly like insect. I finally ended up rigging up a set up with these little teeny flies on it made for catching bait fish and rip that across the surface. One hit and missed an funny thing after that. Not another one would bite. I have had that happen so often. It is like one fella tells everybody else don't touch this. However, I had another bite. I had a great battle, only to find out, I looked some kind of great big Mackerel. This first time we have seen a fish like this caught from the ship. The Filipino riders have it now. I don't know if I will get the chance to sample any of that or not. Some of my fish gets fed to the crew and other fish and at that end up going to the island.

Right now it is. After dinner, and most of the guys are putting in their overtime out on deck, still I was just out there and the sun is setting and boiling hot. The sun has been hot during sunrise and sunset. For days now. I don't know the season is changing supposedly we are getting closer to winter. One thing is for sure. The winds have changed. Now they are southerly, which makes the ship face in the opposite direction on the anchor chain and enables me to receive the radio Diego on my little radio. But I think it is more humid out there last night I was sweating terribly in the middle of the night four and 5 AM I had to change my shirt before I went back up to the bridge. And I don't have too many shirts left. Because most of them are falling apart, it looks like I planned out things fairly well, as I'm running out of and using up most everything pretty close to on time. My eyeglasses are about done. I have lost one pair, and broken my other two pair of working glasses now I'm worrying my last set with a tie straps holding the lens in the frame broke two of them have done that. It does make for some difficulty seeing. I must say this is one of the things that I hate so much fumbling with these glasses while trying to do everything is very sad.

I complain about these age-related issues as there are so many issues coming up here, and as always other crewmembers are surprised to hear how old I am. There are a lot of other guys out here that looks pretty used up, but they are younger. They get used up from this. I am trying to find the time to write up a little about the shipboard happenings maybe later tonight, might be the opportunity. I don't know. Sometimes I get tired of trying to do all of that. I have a bunch of video that I want to start editing I am excited about some of the footage. And for sure I will be doing some or fishing at sometime tonight or the other. I I have two more YouTube videos. I want to upload, but I dread doing that. It takes forever, and success is not assured. I'm staying on the ship tonight rather than running off to the island to do errands. So we will see. I expect I will go online. Pretty soon, so that I can send this off at any rate.

Myself, I only need to the last one more month without serious injury or disease – or mental defect. I think three months would be the more appropriate length of time to be out at a place like this. Many parts of me seem to start shutting down. But fortunately I have the fishing, if not for that I don't know what I would do.

And if not all enough, a couple of the ABs are leaving and it looks like I will be inheriting a small TV, which I can plug into the ship cable so that will be something new. I will be able to tune into the news from my room. Well anyway, that just means I will continue to remain quite busy. Better to be busy then to be bored the boredom creeps up in my mind usually, or at least lately when I'm out on deck and doing some of the mundane, less than encouraging kinds of janitor work. Some members say. I should get permanent on a ship out here and I say, except for a lot of this work that I do, it is difficult for me to deal with when I'm doing the janitor work at this late stage of life. Oh well, that is just one of many, many reasons to not be here.

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I went on down to the Marina and saw Junior, who had no new news for me as far as heavy fishing outfit for fighting those monster Bull Sharks out back. I looked at one outfit in the ship store that is heavier than what I have, but still not up to the task. But it's only 65 bucks for the rod and the real both. I suppose it would work for sturgeon if I could ship the rod home. It would be 4 feet long package.

I was talking to Junior for a while at the Marina. It turns out he lives in Olongapo City in the PI. I told him I had been there in the mid-70s when I was a young sailor in the Navy. He said he was born just after that. He said that he is been looking for his dad ever since. And then I might be his dad. Ha ha LOL. He said that every other 30-year-old guy is looking around for his dad over there. He said there is a bunch of tall Filipinos playing basketball and such.

Then I hopped the bus on down to Jake's place. I had about a half hour before I had to catch the bus to take me to the 1500 launch to get me back to the ship in time to start my 1600 watch. Lily Beth, the ship's cook, was there with a bunch of other Filipinos getting all set up for her going away party. A crew from DG, 21, was busy trying to erect a circus tent. At the same time, Nor easter was blowing through, it has been a gray blustery day today, but things have not cooled down one bit, always sweating outside day or night. They were bringing loads of pots and pans it looked like she had quite the plan for feeding people she knows people from all around the island, even on the bus coming out there were guys from other ships, saying they were coming to the party. So looks like they must've had a hell of a wingding. A few of them just came back on the 2300 launch. But most of them are going to be coming back on the midnight launch. Which is not long from now. I am about to finish up the 16-24 Watch. In fact, I am going to go ahead and go wake my relief right now and prepare to hand over the radio and keys to him. So he can do the mid-watch.

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Fishing has been interesting lately. Lidia the bo'sun went out with Brady and the two cadets Wednesday. They hammered some huge tuna, the Filipino riders have asked them to bring back the fish whole. So that they can get the chance to clean the fish here oaboard the ship and make "Fish Adobo" with the heads and such. This is completely and totally funked up tonight. I don't know what is up. The Filipino riders wanted the fish heads so they had to use the crane to bring all the fish over the side onto the ship. They had two huge tuna about 50 or 60 pounds apiece. I have had some interesting times to I need to tell you later. Right now the top dog seems to be that mad fishermen who fishes for the big jacks from the bow in the middle of the night. They tell me, he has been catching them. I have not seen it. He caught some rainbow runner's the other night and we had them fed to us for dinner last night and I did not like their taste the meat was not very firm.

Just tonight the Islanders were fishing off the back of the ship. They made quite a catch again tonight. They got some great big sweet lips and they all then a big ass Jack. I am still trying to catch one of those damn things. I asked them how they cook those jacks and of course it is hard to understand their accent, but it went something like fry them. Then add coconut fry them again with sugar and sweet and sour.

I thought about possibly fishing tonight, but it is real blustery out there still, and I'm feeling too tired right now. I would rather just talk to you. Where would you like to go fishing? I think the Springer's might be still up in wind River on the Washington side. If I am not too late in returning timing is everything on that run. Well, I also want to party. I missed this big party tonight. Tomorrow night. There is something going on at the Phil Mau Club. It starts at 2000. I am thinking maybe if I have enough energy. When I get done working at 1930, maybe I can catch the 2000 launch. I have not been to the Phil Mau club since I arrived here six years ago I went to that place quite a few times. Lots of us liked to stop in there. But the guys here now have never, or even heard of the place. Well, now the hour is getting late. And if I'm going to do something like that. I will have to sign off for now.

Life here is so intense. I know is going to take me a while to wind down and get oriented back into normal life. It will be kind of strange for a couple of weeks. I know how it goes. But it will be nice to go do some things and see the bands and dance. So I will not have danced for four months.

Well, here is a new day. Today we are doing lashing we have all been sent down into the holds to make sure that all of the hundreds of military vehicles are lashed down securely with the chain bindings is been hard work, but at least it's fairly cool down thereinstead of being up here on deck where it is still so damned hot, even though it's cloudy out. It is still muggy and sweaty. But I'm getting tired, that lashing is hard work. Of course I signed on to work overtime tonight. I don't think I'll have much company, as usual, though the others deciding not to work. I'm going to put on my kneepads when I go back down there. Well the guys told me the news about the beauty contest last night as I expected from what I know about the Seamen's club and their attempts to promote things, it was canceled. Of the three girls that signed up only one showed. Oh well, it looks like they need some help with that sort of thing. Well, now my break is done and I have to go back down for some more lashing

.

I got a big ass blister trying to come up on my hand. I should have been using the Fid tool instead of using my hand to hold onto the turnbuckle while I torqued with the pipe wrench in the other hand. But the other guys were using the fid tool. Oh well, we are now done with all of the holds. It is just about chow time. Then at 1730 we will see who shows up for overtime. Doesn't sound like it will be much. AB Hanna told me he will think of me when he is kicking back doing something or the other relaxing on the ship while I am doing my overtime. I said that when I hit the island, after I get done with my overtim,. I will tip a cold beer in honor of whatever it is he was doing to relax while I was working. He does not want to go to the island because he has to work tomorrow, so he will sacrifice his overtime and stay on the ship and relax instead. So he should be pretty fresh tomorrow. I would think. Maybe I can con him into doing all of my work if I am hung over and nobody is watching? How do they say - that dog won't hunt? That plan will probably not work.

... Well, now, so much for that plan. Did my overtime working with AB thong, painting out a section on the main deck. We roll it out with rollers and then sprinkle sand into it to make it nonskid. Thong didn't mix quite enough paint. We ended up working right up to 7:30 PM. I had to rush to get out of here, so it turns out that they had a beauty contest at the Phil Mau Club. They are picking Ms something or other for the Philippine Independence Day. They will pick a winner sometime in June. They had a few beauties there. Nobody from my ship went to it. Not even the Filipino riders. Of which we have eight of them on board right now. From there I went to the Turner club, also known as the Island room. There, the XOP Band was playing. Nobody danced the whole time I was there. A rather odd situation. They were sure dancing at the first club, they had some dance troupes entertaining us.

I sat there at the bar listening to the music and letting my mind wander. It wandered all the way over to you and the things going on around you. Then, monster bull sharks started swimming through my head. And I decided in my hazy brain that I would have to redouble my efforts to go after them. Everyone thinks it's ridiculous, but I'm thinking this will most assuredly be my one and only last chance to ever do anything like this. Right now I am trying to pry off my shirt in the middle of the day and recuperate. I took the midnight launch back to the ship last night. And when I came aboard, AB Doug was standing the midwatch. That means he was ready to fish. The only time he fishes is during the midwatch. He borrows Rodney's pole. Doug. He is peculiar, however, because he will not touch the fish is something about the eyes and whatever. And he will not eat any fish, and cannot stand the smell of fish – but he fishes. And we have certainly had some GOOD times doing that :-)

So, he talked me into getting my gear and coming out to the turntable, which I call my battle station. He needed bait, and I had cut piece of bonito in my little freezer. So I ended up fishing out there with him until 3 AM. Also AB Brady showed up for a while. We had a pretty crazy time. I was tossing one of my new jigs. I bought at the ship's store after losing my others, with a little strip of bonito on the hook. I got a good bite and the fish immediately hung me up. That is typical of what a Grouper will do. It will dash out of its lair grab its meal and – back in to the coral. We decided to just let it sit while I retied a new rig for Doug, as he had lost his also in the coral. Sometime my pole started bouncing around again and I grabbed that and yanking it I felt it pulling through everything and the fish was free again and I got it in, a nice chunky grouper. We got the net and dropped it down there and in all the confusion, Doug. He was pulling on these lines and so forth. And he's pulling on a line, and it is not mine. He ends up pulling up. One of the hand lines, like the Filipinos use, complete with all the line and the hook, sinker and bait on it. We still have not figured out exactly how that all came about.

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While I am pretty beat down I have a pulsing pain write down my left middle back. And my ears are plugged up first one and the other. I got called away, just before dinner to go down to the turntable. Brady came to my door and told me that they were catching fish like crazy down there, the four Islanders have been fishing back there all week long. I went back and they had a monster sweet lips must've been 3 feet long, and one of the other guys had a bunch of these moon fish I've been telling people on the ship that those fish are down there, but nobody's ever caught one. I tried a few times with no luck. Now here. One of these Islanders has about four of them in the bag. One of them is a monster. Those four guys have buckets full of all kinds of fish and they had not even been here that long. I don't know what makes all these fish bite like that. If I hadn't of already written in for my overtime. I would've said to hell with it, and got down there myself, but I was obligated and now I am done so another day flutters away – just like chipping paint.

Sea Blog Diego Garcia 2011

I sit here and reminisce about this here Sea Blog which have not gazed upon in quite a while.

When I first began these sea faring journeys in 2005 it was by written log - done from right here in this same HOT place. That was a written journal which has never since seen the light of day. Later I switched to the digital Sea Blog so that the outside world could get a gander at this sea farin’ type of life. For whatever that is worth. I don’t figger too many eyes have gazed upon this here Blog. But it will remain here as long as this site allows for whomever, such as perhaps current and prospective seafarers. There have been a few books written through the years but there has been little record of what it is like on the ships. So let this be one.

　

This comes from the Isle of Diego Garcia. Some know where this place is - in the BIOT, smack in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Yes, I have returned to the place where it all started fer me in 2006 (the sailin‘ work that I do). Mebbe after this stint is done - I will be done sailin’ the high seas. Anyways, I ain’t got much time at the moment, been here a week now. These are the tales of this here place on me Sea Blog at:

MySpace.com/FlyingDutchman2

where you can find tales of previous sailin’ adventures, if’n ye so desire to do so. Ye can check out pics o‘ me first workin‘ assignment and many more pics as I post them at MySpace and Facebook. J There be a link to my Facebook page from there.There is little known of this place by the general public. But the info is out there. Just Google Diego Garcia. This is an atoll at the southern tip of the Maldives chain of islands. An atoll is the remaining mouth of an ancient extinct volcano. This island is only about ten square miles or so, horseshoe shaped with a huge, deep lagoon in the middle - perfect for anchoring out a bunch of ships. The tallest part of the isle is only about 6 ft. Above sea level. The tallest building is no more than 2 stories!

　

The isle is actually owned by the Brits as part of the British Indian Ocean Territories. There is a backstory concerning the conversion of this island to a military facility - not all that savory for some. Wikipedia has the story. We rent this island from the Brits. Army, Navy, Marines, Air force, Merchant Marines and British military are all here, along with a couple thousand Philippine Islanders who live in the Village and keep the isle up and running. There are no civilians here unless they are contracted to perform some service for the military.

　

The ships here are in the employ of the Military Sealift Command. They are Pre Positioned here (along with other places in the world) for military action. They are like floating warehouses, movable in case of war. This ship carries all the heavy equipment, armament, munitions, berthing and equip’t to outfit 100 Marines. It can all be off loaded pierside, beachside or anywhere in between in a matter of days, if need be. Of course I hope I will never see that need!

　

So, what is this place like you may wonder. Well, it is like no place else in the world - for one thing. The Duchess refers to it as, “land’s end.” It could also be called, “the land that time forgot.”

I got here by way of United Airlines from Portland, Or. To Washington D.C. To Kuwait then to Bahrain. Then a military flight to Diego Garcia. I felt it was strange to go this way as it is the long way to the far side of the planet. In 2005 I flew to Narita, Japan then Singapore then on to Diego. I spent a night in Bahrain and though I don’t have a lot of fear, I decided all the same to remain within the confines of the 4 star Hotel I had been put up in. Didn’t want to push my luck wandering the streets in case I might trip across some dude who might hate me more than I would ever know.

Went to get online only to find that the plug-ins were all wrong for my charger. I had forgotten that the voltages and such are all wrong in some of these countries. I looked over at my now useless cell phone and pondered my thoughts on being cut off from the outside world.

FlyingDutchman

Friday, October 15, 2021

#FishFinAddicts : Memories of the Siletz, Salmon and Sandy Rivers Fishin...

Monday, June 1, 2015

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Saturday, November 2, 2013

American Badass

Friday, November 1, 2013

Come Sail Around the Planet With Me: as in Circumnavigate

Friday, January 6, 2012

Here is my 10 Part Vid Series on my time in Diego Garcia

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Sea Bog: Diego Garcia The Whole Account

Diego Garcia 2/8/11

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Friday, October 15, 2021

#FishFinAddicts : Memories of the Siletz, Salmon and Sandy Rivers Fishin...

Monday, June 1, 2015

A Tale of Shad Salmon and Sturgeon on a Willamette Spring Day

Saturday, November 2, 2013

American Badass

Friday, November 1, 2013

Come Sail Around the Planet With Me: as in Circumnavigate

Friday, January 6, 2012

Here is my 10 Part Vid Series on my time in Diego Garcia

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Sea Bog: Diego Garcia The Whole Account

Diego Garcia 2/8/11

Translate

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