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 come to the end of our preparation, training, coaching, and boat building, and thanks to the incredible professionals on the boat, the amateurs (muppets) have now been upgraded to muppet plus. This exercise has probably been more of a challenge than their various round the world yacht races or olympic campaigns. Anyway we’re a cohesive crew and all ready for the challenge of racing round these island and the odd active volcano – start is tomorrow morning.

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 lighter winds. Two chutes and a jib were tested, plus instruments recalibrated in the smoother seas. Plenty of jobs ticked off. Provisions mainly loaded – so with a day to spare, we’re pretty well set for racing.

Crew party tonight and then full day on the water Sunday ahead of Monday start.

Great work by the crew in the boatyard today – shaping, laminating, heating, vacuum bagging, and other esoteric tasks to do with sticking carbon fiber to the rudder and remaking the tip. Tomorrow a bit of fairing and then back we go in the water. A challenge to overcome for sure, but overcome none the less.

Meanwhile others were working on their projects, including the big shop for provisions (we already had the dehydrated meals, this was the snacks, fruit, perishables, etc).

The day ended with a well earned swim, some went to see the sunset from Shirley Heights, and now all waiting for pasta Friday in the main house.