A week after their encounter with a 12-foot shark, during one of Team Sun Lattes blackout nights their worst dream almost became a reality. In the pre dawn hours a ships navigation lights were spotted on the horizon headed directly for them. Several times Iain tried in vain to make VHF contact to warn the ship of their presence.
As the first light of dawn broke the horizon the crew changed course in the hope of avoiding a collision. Unfortunately the ship too changed its bearing to again be on the same heading. Team Sun Latte change back and, once again, the ship corrected its line to where Team Sun Latte lay in the ocean. It soon became apparent that the ship knew they were there and were coming in for closer look.
A little too close. The ship, which was actually a large fishing trawler, came up alongside the 7m boat pitching and yawing in the swells. As Iain and Tara yelled to move further away the rather unkempt looking crew of the trawler came out on deck for a closer look but did not respond. After further inspection and more pleas from our guys, the skipper exited the wheel house and emerged on deck with his crew to have a gander as well.
Iain and Tara who thought the fishermen were Spanish were very nervous while the trawler, which seemed to be all but on top of them at times, remained by their side as the swells passed under the respective boats. But after what seemed like an age the crew eventually tired of the spectacle, returned to their duties and the boat motored off to continue its journey.
Tara, rather shaken asked Iain, "What was that all about? Why were they so interested in seeing us?"
Iain, in his usual understated way, replied, "Probably three reasons: The first is that they probably wanted to see what an ocean rowing boat looks like. Secondly, they may well want to see what these crazy ocean rowers look like too. And thirdly, you forgot to put your shorts back on."