3/01/13

Phase one, perhaps the most crucial of the voyage, was a success. Not before doing a little fishing though, that
also produced a few victories, but nothing worthy of mention other than stocking the larder with primo fresh loins.
The real reason for the abbreviated deviation from our three day southerly trek was to stock up on preferred local
baits, if available, positioning ourselves ideally for what we may find at our ultimate destination. And stock up
we did.

Although it wasn't perfect (it so rarely is in this zone) we picked and scratched our way from benchmark to
benchmark finally forcing ourselves to depart just prior to midnight rather than continue chasing the perpetual
extending goal. An over played "just a few more" gamble has disastrous potential in this endeavor. Down here there
are no second chances. A few less in the tanks can add up to a whole lot more in the long run.

Tired eyes and legs agreed with the timing of departure. A satisfied many know what we now have in the tanks -
great potential earned the old fashioned way. I speculate that at least a few dreams followed the night's success;
dreams of that hearty little devil hitting the water after a perfect cast running for it's life straight into the
deeps, dreams of that unmistakable whack! as the behemoth tuna overtakes the fleeing baitfish with ease and sucks
it down in one big gulp, and dreams of that ultimate moment when after a count of two or three the gears are
engaged and the once satisfied tuna becomes a raging, determined beast on the end of your line.

These dreams are set to become reality. We are on our way to Clipperton island with the most perfect load of bait
one can hope for. The fish gods were beneficent this evening. Huge gratitude, and relief, are the prevailing
sentiment on the bridge at present. Now the fishing can begin.

Not before a couple of full days of travel however. The magic of Clipperton is the distance. It is the extreme "pay
to play" destination. The time investment is built in. And for this reason time has yet to exact it's inevitable
price on this amazing island as a whole. There have certainly been a few pounds of flesh extracted, but the waters
surrounding Clipperton atoll, by any measure in 2013, are still much as they were in the beginning of time - near
pristine and all of extreme.

It is why the incredibly remote atoll is so compelling. It is one of those rare places that strikes the primal
chord. It takes quite some doing to get there. But once you arrive it is all understood. It's the fishing
equivalent of Close Encounters; for those appreciative, and perceptive, of beyond superficial.

First photo of the voyage features the "Thai Team" again joining us on this run from the opposite side of the
globe. Jai, whose fishing exploits stretch far the beyond the deck of Royal Star, once again demonstrates "Thai
Style" reefing on his first good yellowfin of the trip.

Tim Ekstrom



Photo Here...