Melbourne Osaka Cup Update - Cloud Games in the Doldrums

Fika the Najad 490 - Melbourne Osaka Cup © Al Dillon

Recount by Annette Hesselmans - Fika

For mother-and-daughter duo Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders aboard Fika, a Najad 490, recent days have been a masterclass in patience and persistence. Navigating the fickle moods of the equatorial doldrums, they've learned to read the clouds, each a promise or a test of spirit.

"Mornings bring little flocks of fair-weather cumulus and a steady easterly breeze. Fika is making 6 knots for the first time in days—we're moving forward, a rare treat in this part of the world.

The wind cannot be trusted. It is teasing and fickle. It breaks hearts more often than it provides promise; welcome to the Doldrums sailing!

Morning Clouds from Fika - Melbourne Osaka Cup - photo © Annette Hesselman

We've blown out our Code 0, which is like clipping Fika's wings.

Perhaps this afternoon when the flocks of cumulus grow up into towering cumulus nimbus, we will raise, unfurl and drop the Code 0 to the deck to see if we can make repairs although it's torn from luff to leach.

The change in clouds signals that the change in wind is coming.

The afternoon nimbus are moody and greedy. They steal all of the gentle morning breeze. Suck it all up leaving a glassy ocean, Fika bobbing and our spirits deflated. A nimbus rain squall brings a minute of wind and then changes its mind in direction and strength until it gets bored, tosses us out like a play toy and moves on. This leaves us wallowing, usually pointing in the wrong direction with no wind. It can sometimes be hours before any breeze appears again.

Nights offer calm, either a gentle breeze or a mirror-like ocean reflecting stars and planets. I sit on watch, urging that Osaka flag to stir, whispering for the wind to return."

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