The start of the race saw playful humpback whales broaching amongst the race fleet. Last night we sailed past an active volcano. You can’t say this race doesn’t have things to see outside of blue water and green islands. Still sailing old school and if this is a success, may end up removing electronics etc! Maybe a fridge would be nice. No meals for 2 days now – will attack the roti stands when we get in – 1 more…
Feels like an aftermath of a storm! Problems with alternator means we are sailing “old school” – no electronics or watermaker, just steering by feel and the stars at night (which have been spectacular). Very hot on board but spirits are high and the sailing is great.
The sport of sailing is like no other – world famous sailors compete with and against passionate corinthian sailors. Today we ran through the light air combinations, as the race looks like a light wind, not trade wind, challenge. Settings tested for these conditions, and data gathered to work out our optimum route and sail selection. An early tune up with another Cookson 50 helped see the effect of these changes – all positive. New rudder working well. So we’ve…
Success! After a night in a vacuum bag, the carbon had cured ok. Next up was fairing at dawn! This involved smearing filler all over the carbon, letting it set, then sanding it off leaving the filler now on the boatyard team. It was suggested just to cover the team in filler and bypass the rudder, but there were unamused looks.Rudder reinstalled and afloat by 2pm, and out to sea by 2:15 for an afternoon of preparation in the now…
After Sandy was given the keys to the North Sails van, the day went a bit downhill. Tristan diving on the boat to clean the bottom noticed that the tip of the rudder was missing – eaten by a passing shark; torn off with all the recent boatspeed; or like sailors everywhere, just buggered off to the nearest bar. Anyway our 9′ rudder was now a 7′ rudder, and apparently the drivers needed those extra inches, as Sean said, “ever…
Whilst the Formula 1 cars are doing winter testing in Spain, we’re winter testing in Antigua – warm, wet, and sometimes not raining. Today’s work included man-overboard recovery, practiced in the harbour using the system devised by Volvo round the world crews. Excellent system and very quick and easy – in a harbour in daylight, good training though we hope never to use the skills and system. The sea was nice and warm! Afterwards we tried out the new A3…
Busy day on the water and all went well – good training day! Wind in the 20’s again with seas not quite so big. Headed to the west end at very high speed with the chute up – 20+ knots, which gave us a long upwind to get back. Saw a Mod-70 trimaran coming in – the big boats are gathering. After the crew debrief last night, changed a few things around with good results. As we didn’t break anything,…
To be fair to Andrew it was a difficult sea, as well as a big square wave. After the crew emerged from the tons of water unceremoniously dumped on then, accusing glances were directed at the still dripping helm. Big wind and waves made the training session a challenge – lots of reefs in and out, jibs, spinnaker and code0 were swapped about up front, and a practice man overboard drill eas carried out, all after a 7am start for…
Today we had big breeze, big waves, and a big spider… The consensus was a tarantula, although it could have been a small dog, chicken, or mongoose. The Australian contingent kept well clear, and with their experience of dangerous creatures, the rest of the crew followed suit. Out on the water we ran through the basics to make sure halyards pulled sails up, and winches were uncomfy to sit on, etc. Didn’t spend too long on the water as big…