Poseidon Tax

Today we mourn the loss of two members of our crew who have been with us since day one. 

This morning I accidentally kicked my faithful coffee mug from the deck, smashing it in half before losing most of it overboard. More upsetting was losing a fishing rod about an hour ago. Lacuna plotted against us and yanked the rod out its holder with her main sheet. 

These minor casualties are just the latest in a long list of items we've lost to the drink. The easiest things to lose are tools whilst hanging over the edge trying to fix something like the windvane off the stern (two spanners and a torque wrench) or tightening rigging around the bowsprit (an adjustable spanner). 

We've decided that losing things overboard is so easy to do that we might as well budget for it. (We are of course learning every time it happens so hopefully we're getting better) The cost of replacing lost items is now known as our Poseidon Tax. That greedy God claims roughly 1% of our outgoings. I guess it makes sense that he has changed business plan now that temples in his name have long since ceased offerings. Now he simply throws a well timed wave at unsuspecting sailors and collects his reward. 

I'm writing this anchored in about 10 fathoms (20 meters-ish) just off Point Loma outside San Diego. We're bobbing around huge kelp forests with what's left of our fishing gear out catching dinner! Then we'll head into San Diego harbour, our final American destination.