Race 4 - Day 3
Crew Diary - Race 4, Day 3
20 November
Well, what a twenty-four hours thats been!
I’m writing this blog from the saloon, surrounded by soaking wet and tired sailors who are happily tucking into some breakfast after a rather busy and wet watch on deck. Brian and Hadrian are on Mother Watch today - porridge with golden syrup is on the menu, and we have found the marmalade (finally!) so the toast is a popular choice as well here at our local favourite cafe. The alfresco area is closed due to rain but the inside area is cosy enough and the customers keep on coming anyway! We’ve been talking about getting a loyalty card system but the proprietors insist they have no competition so really no need. The seasickness that struck many of us badly for the first 36 hours now seems to have fully abated, so there’s plenty of big appetites around this table...
Nick signed off yesterday’s blog entry having just torn the Code 2 Spinnaker for the second time in two hours, and the Code 3 was (is? Continues to be?) in a series of strips in the sail locker! There has been quite some discussion amongst the crew, AQP Sam and Skipper Dan to get to the bottom of the issue we’ve been having so we could understand why our spinnakers have been ‘exploding’ on the hoist and sort it out so we can use them as needed on this downwind course.
The prevailing theory was that our luff line was not tensioned correctly, which means the force of the spinnaker ‘popping open’ puts too much tension on the fabric itself, rather than on the luff line, resulting in big rips in the fabric as a result. So overnight we stitched up the Code 2 (I knew those 10 years sewing skills would come in handy, although I’ve never used a sewing machine wallowing around at 45 degrees before!) spread the whole Code 2 Spinnaker out below decks and re-tensioned line before wrapping the spinnaker ready to hoist once more. Not an easy task but will certainly save us a lot of time on the sewing machine going forward so a worthwhile exercise. And so far so good...
Apart from the Code 2 repairs, it was a rather magic night on deck. A few rain squalls coming through but in between a semi-cloudy evening with a perfect half-moon glistening over the water, some beautiful surfing waves giving us some good speed and fun on the helm, visits from some ‘big sooty coloured birds’, some enormous seagulls, our first flying fish, and the first glimpse of the southern cross rising over the boat in the night sky – some really magical sailing conditions which looks to continue for a while yet.
A big hello to all our shore crew keeping an eager eye on us from home, and sending our love to all the crew families and friends. Also Happy Birthday to my Dad for yesterday – I hope you had some good cake and bacon!
A reminder to follow us along online through our Facebook and Instagram channels (@imagineyourkoreateam) where you can also find the links to our fundraiser store for UNICEF where you can pick up some awesome ‘Imagine your Korea’ merchandise and support a good cause at the same time.
Big hugs and much love to all.
Signing off from 39 South.
Kate Holling