A Shark of a Story

Thanks to Google Images.

 Today is the big reveal..  The truth about my First Crusader Challenge story.

 I have always loved the sea and did compete in sailing competitions around Southern Ireland in a GP 14 named "Rubber Duck"  I think the word fuliguline reminded me of this little experience. 

The boat did in fact capsize into a school of Basking Sharks. Basking sharks are often seen traveling in larger schools of up to a 100 or more. I swear there were hundreds of them! 

 I was indeed wearing the thick Atlantic Ocean grade insulated wetsuit. Which I was told after the fact was a good thing or my skin could have been ripped to ribbons due to the basking sharks skin with its large dermal dentacles (denticle" translates to "small tooth).  Basking shark skin is very rough and scratchy because it is covered in MILLIONS of scales like tiny shark teeth!

The Basking Sharks sheer size and power must be respected. They are HUGE! They have two dorsal fins.  The larger one is to the front of the shark and smaller one towards the tail end.  Scary! 

What I did not do was turn the boat to the wind and sail away leaving my not so Knight in Shining Armour behind.  It is what I wanted to do, but didn't. That could qualify as my good characteristic or my bad one.  Depends on the day.  My sailing days were numbered after this experience.

 Jemi you were right!  Well done.

Now you all know a little something about Basking Sharks.  Blogging is so informative don't you think!

Crusaders Challenge

Rachel at Rac Writes has set The First Crusader Challenge:
So I must tell you in  300 words or less:

· one secret
· one lie
· one interesting quirk
· one annoying habit
· one of my better character traits, and
· one of one favourite things in the whole world.

And I must include the  words, “bloviate,” “fuliguline,” “rabbit,” and “blade”.   No this is not a joke.  After looking up the words the following story came to mind.  I hope you enjoy it more than I did!
Oh and don't forget to check out the other Crusaders who have taken on the Challenge here!

When I was young I sailed the seas like fuliguline.   I competed in races around the south of Ireland in a GP14, the “Rubber Duck.”  When the races were over my fellow sailing competitors gathered in the pub and would bloviate on the day’s events.  There were many a tall tale and a boisterous sing song.  I had no fear of the seas.  I relished the wind and sea spray in my face, the exhilaration of hanging out the side of the boat as the wind caught the sails and the spinnaker.  My head just brushing the waves until that fateful day.  It was the three point harbour race.  We were ahead by a hair as we rounded the Black Rock.  The sail flapped, the boat keeled as we tried to tack.  But alas it was not to be and the boat capsized.  He landed on the Black Rock; I landed in the water and tried to disentangle myself from the ropes.  I turned and that is when I saw them.  Sharks fins just a few feet away.  I felt like a rabbit trapped in a foxes den.  

 “Grab the boat and turn it over,” he shouted at me. 

“ Sharks,” I screamed back at him, “Sharks! “ 

“Grab the ropes and turn the boat,” he shouted.  “They won’t hurt you, they are only Basking Shark, they only eat plankton.”

One of the large barnacled bodies passed right by me.  Thankfully I was wearing my Atlantic Ocean wetsuit or my skin would have been cut to ribbons.  I righted the boat and managed to climb in. 

“Now,” he said, “Ease her over here.” 

 I looked at him and if I had a blade I would have run him through. 

Turning the boat into the wind, “Swim,” I said, “After all they are only Basking Shark, and they won’t hurt you.”

Something about this tale isn’t strictly true, can you guess what it is? Will reveal the little fib on Wednesday, 2/23.       Ooops went ten words over!  HeyHo!

o!