Purse Seine Fishing

Commercial fishing boats galore greeted us on our arrival to Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Here is a brief summary of how these big fishing ships do their work.
First, locate a school of tuna with you helicopter or by observing bird flocks.
Take the ship to the school of fish and launch the tender which is basically a floating 5000hp diesel engine and propeller. Pull the net around the school of fish while the ship goes around the school the other way. The idea is to form a circular curtain of net around the school. Nets are many hundreds of meters long laid very carefully on the aft deck.
Once the tender and ship meet up again, secure the loose end of the net to the ship (purse with no bottom) and then tighten the rope at the bottom of the curtain to form a purse with a bottom. Voila. 25 000 fish in a bag.
Tighten the rope on the top to make the purse smaller. Then once it is alongside start scooping up the fish. The scooping nets are 10m across and attached to large winches. Drop into the purse, scoop up a hundred fish, deposit on fishing ship for gutting and freezing. Repeat as necessary 24/7 to fill the ship. No, they don’t come back until they are full!

Enroute to Maloelap

Off we go north on a long day sail to Maloelap Atoll.

Airik, Maloelap. RMI

Hmm...seems a little quiet. Ahh, everyone has gone to Taroa for Christmas. Guess we'll check in over there.

Anchoring Celebration

Andre Takes a Crack at It

Taroa, Maloelap, RMI

It was the last Sunday before Christmas and we were invited to join the village in their feast. Fortunately we had some idea that a formal thank you speech would be required. Step up to the podium skipper.

The kids say farewell!

Diving the Wreck

Beautiful

Looking for WWII Relics

Maloealp atoll (about 70 NM north of Majuro) has hundreds of relics. I'm not sure Andre found ALL of them but he may have come close.

Beach Games

Out and About in Maloelap

Climbing Coconut Trees

I Think They're Done

Yachtie Xmas Party

There are about 40 boats in the mooring field this year. The yacht club threw a pot luck Christmas dinner in the bokanini behind the hotel. The kids got to run....