We used to pop corks at 40 knots... now it's just an effortless stroll.

We did a 41 + knot 500 m run in around 18 knots average wind. ( I haven't downloaded all the data yet... but that's my guesstimation). It was a joy to blow off all the cobwebs from five months of storage. The run was perfect in that the boat was hitting all the marks and behaving impeccably.

The SW wind began to fill in before midday which is always a good sign. It's a bright sunny day and the wind is building. It's forecast to be between 18-23 knots so mthere is the potential for a good day. Either way, we should get in a good shake-down run.

Everyone is fueled up and climbing into their MUSTO drysuits. The wind is beginning to whistle through the palm tree outside. It's definitely on.

So let's go.

Paul.

Not much to report I'm afraid.

We have the whole team on standby... but the wind isn't coming to the party. It's forecast to come in from Tuesday on so we are using the time to keep refining the boat.

And so it begins... with what looks like a rather mild day.

It's just gone quater past two and that makes it high tide. We spent the morning doing final tweaks and instrument calibrations. The wind has swung into the WSW but isn't building at a great rate. My gut feel says it will get to around 17-19 knots tops.