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 inch counts”. They didn’t however notice that the rudder had shortened itself whilst driving around the ocean. Go figure.

So boat hauled, rudder out (we’re very good at this now), and calls made to source carbon fiber in Antigua or on yachts. The boatyard workers and crew got to work and the plan is that the new, improved rudder will be ready for a launch Sunday morning and a final day of training/testing. Fortunately we have had plenty of time on the water so far, so just a schedule change for the rest of the week.

Meantime the head has been replumbed and raised, the watermaker serviced, and the food packed – not by the same person! Safety briefing Saturday and a walkthrough of the race course/weather/etc., followed by the crew party at the Yacht Club, where it will all be quickly forgotten.

Almost ready for the off…

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