We left Apia this morning at about 6:30am in company with the Danish boat "Scafhogg" and are bound for Asau on the island of Savai'i the Big Island of Samoa. The weather was overcast with some sun breaks. The wind is blowing nicely from the East at about 18k, though our wind instruments are unreliable now because our speed log is stuck from algae growth and lack of cleaning (the instruments use boat speed to calculate True wind speed from the apparent wind measurements).

By 7:30am we were about a mile or two off and clear all hazards. We had the main out alone and were motorsailing to charge the batteries at 9k with just the main out. The seas are somewhat largish with 6-8ft common and some big ones of 10 or 12ft. We are going downwind of course and so its only a bit of rolling. Before we could put up the genoa a fish hit - I forgot to mention we put out the line as we were motoring out of the harbor. We put the motor in neutral to make it easier to fight the fish.

It was a nice Mahi-Mahi (which the Samoans call "MasiMasi", though most seem to know both names, really just a variation as each are from a slightly different Polynesian dialect) of about 18lbs and the captain filleted it immediately on deck before dealing with the jib. It put on quite a show for us leaping and jumping into the air with its entire body airborne many times. Jonah especially enjoyed it. The captain was exhausted afterwards of course.

Since we are sailing in company with another boat, we are in a de-facto race with them. Its hard to explain, but trust me, anytime two sailboats can see each other there is a race going on. So by now Anders had gained on my significantly eating up the lead I took by leaving harbor first and motorsailing longer. We then put up the whisker pole on the stbd. side and let out the jib and our speed improved to about 7.5k average with many bursts over 8.5k.

It is now 9:10am and the wind seems to be moderating slightly. Out speed is down to about 7k average but we are hopeful as we are still seeing some 7.8 and 8+ readings occasionally.

At about 2pm we were cooking along at 8k+ and wham, another strike. By the time I ran to the cockpit more then half the reel was gone and the fish was still taking more. I tried to slow the boat down a little by heading more downwind, but it didn't make much difference. The fish just keep running and running - I had the drag all the way, full-on and I could not make any progress. We saw it jump several times, I bet it was a Marlin. Anyway, when it got down to like 30 wraps on the spool (you could see more of the spool then the line) I tried to let the drag go completely to see what would happen and the fish did kinda stop for a minute, but then the boat's motion pulled all the slack loose and the fish felt the hook again and took off. When the spool got down to the end it snapped. It must have been a monster, but I feel bad about having it dragging around hundreds of feet of monofilament. I don't know what you are supposed to do in a situation like this, if I could have reeled in the fish I would have cut it right at the leader and he only would be stuck with a hook, which will rust away and fall off.

We sailed throughout the day in good winds and reached Asau at about 4pm. The wind blew nicely from 15-25k at the end. Seas were large and we surfed down some nice waves making 10 or 11k. The entrance to the bay was hard to find. The charted position did not line up with the GPS plot so we motored West along the coast close in about a half mile till we had the entrance lined up (there were both markers on each side and a leading line). We anchored in about 32ft of water just behind "Scafhogg". Another boat we met in Apia is also here, "Abel Tasmen" and they have already rowed over to invite us for drinks along with Scafhogg so I will have to hurry off now.