Umiko - Blog 3 day 5 from Bazz

Arise Sir Polly The Invertor

Day Five of our odyssey.

Umiko continues to successfully wrestle with relatively light airs and constantly shifting wind angles. At mid-day, ARC HQ advises us that we are now currently third overall in the Racing Division and morale is high. Astute navigation tactics from Olly (to gybe the boat west at 23 odd North) peels Umiko away from the rump of the fleet with only Ulisse and Stay Calm our immediate neighbours on the water. Crew teamwork is now developing a metronome with hoists and drops typically taking place around watch changes. After four days, all the crew now know their respective stations and it’s clicking…

At 16.00hrs, after a period of settled 7-9 knots constant breeze we hoist the A2 and set a course of 270 degrees. A beautiful evening under a star filled sky saw our first flying fish of this trip and regular sightings of Dolphins.

As always, much banter and laughter on deck. A lot of trust is being placed on Kish Rules as frothy stories from the past are shared! Loose lips sink ships!
As the evening progresses, we struggle with a very shifty breeze and an increasing swell. Calm sailing nevertheless and the helms talk great care not to upset Chef as she prepares a top notch feed of Massaman Curry. We will certainly not starve on this voyage (although the increasing shortage of chocolate biscuits is a concern).
Late into the night, increasingly variable wind shifts make steering challenging (despite unquivering concentration by the Knights Watch). None of the Irish or Swedish crew on board have witnessed such large and variable swings in such a concentrated period. The fact that it is night - with no visible horizon - makes headway even harder. At 2pm, with Polly at the wheel, an abrupt 180 degree windshift inverts the A2 and suddenly Umiko is beating under a spinnaker! ALL HANDS ON DECK. Frenetic crew work. A 2 dropped and Jib hoisted. Sewer rats sweating in the saloon, searching for any tears and repacking the sail. Umiko sailing upwind for 30 min before the breeze reverted to the stern/starboard. Welcome to the tradewinds! While Olly had experienced a 180 degree wind shift before, for the rest of us it was our first experience of the fickle ocean breeze…