Back to the scene of the crime.

So today we did a dry-run back to the Walvis Bay 'speed-spot' with Sailrocket.
A few high-tensile bolts were still missing from the equation but everything else was in place. I decided that it would be good for all of us to blow off the dust from the re-fit and re-acquaint ourselves with the boat as it is now, the wind and the water.
We haven't taken the boat back over there since our Run 7 wipeout from a few months ago. Alot has already happened since.
The boat that arrived out front of the new timing huts looks the same but is fundamentally different.

It was a glamour day, perfect for sailing and therefore very tempting... but we will do this with a steady controlled force. It's not a project for a the passion of a teenager (not to dismiss its value in the right circumstance).
We raised the rig with the new central flap deployed and... it feathered. We could let it go in the wind and it would look after itself. The more wind the better it behaved. Because the wing is inclined at an angle, at low wind speeds gravity is still the boss. At over 18 knots of apparent she just floats along as happy as you like. This may cause its own problems as it could mean that... well...basically we need mainsheet force to pull on the flap against the bungies and maybe there isn't enough left over.... and any further explanation would require a few beers and a curry... and plenty of beermats.
But we are on to it.
It was nice just to see the wing float about like a house trained labrador rather than hunt like a chained wolf!
Everything else worked fine, the team was warm and looking smart (thanks MUSTO), the videos were working and the instrument/data logging setup was also showing its re-assuring heart beat.
The boats good. A couple of funny little things showed up that you wouldn't have guessed unless you went out there. Every one is small but very significant if left un-noticed i.e. The large rudder is now on a trigger mechanism so it can be instantly deployed and left to kick up unrestrained... which it did time and time again on the shore. But if it is engaged in the water then a line which previously hung limp now floats... and gets jammed between the rudder case and the rudder... and the friction means that the rudder only comes up half way... which would result in uncontrollable rudder forces at over 30 knots right when you trigger the big rudder up!!!!
A silly little thing but something that shows you the value of doing dry-runs.

A classic Australian comment is 'she'll be right'. In this case 'she definitely won't be'. Gently, gently and we'll catch this monkey.

Tomorrow we will go sailing.

Cheers, Paul.

Paul Larsen
Mobile: + 44 (0) 794 684 1929
E-mail: paularsen1@aol.com
www.sailrocket.com

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