Race 2 - Day 5
Skipper Report
20 September

Ian Wiggin
Ian Wiggin
Team Unicef
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Morning all,

Wildlife bingo is the subject of today's blog. As we have sailed further out into the Atlantic and away from the mouth of the Mediterranean, we are starting to encounter some of the many different species of life that, despite the diligent efforts of our ancestors, we will share our watery paradise with over the coming weeks and months. So far we have seen a fin whale, some white sided dolphins, many common dolphins - those stray cats of the sea - some turtles, some flying fish, a flying squid (that was dead on the deck, so may not count!), some mottled petrels, a manx shearwater and a small flock of storm petrels. Our eyes remain peeled, and our sharpies are poised over our whale watcher's poster, as we try not to let racing interfere with our research.

Sadly it has occasionally with gybes and kite changes required as we dash to keep up with the leading boats. With the weather glorious all day and a fresh 20 knot breeze blasting the fleet southwards, we are all honing our helming, winch handling and our telling our green ropes from our red ones in pitch darkness skills. They will come in handy through our epic 40,000 nautical mile journey, as will cake making, singing and joke telling - skills which several of our crew brought on board with them.

Here we go!

Ian and Mike.