Back in the Bay...

Greetings everyone, once more from the VESTAS SAILROCKET operations base in Walvis Bay , Namibia.

We arrived yesterday afternoon after a round-a-bout tour of Africa via DOHA in Qatar, Johannesberg, Cape Town (overnight stopover) and then a final flight into Walvis Bay itself. I've never seen Walvis Bay from the air. It looks tiny. Emerging from that tiny cabin into the glaring Namibian sun, I mused to myself was like coming out the tip of an intravenous needle right into the heart of the speed sailing world.

We had maxed out our luggage and it had been a real effort to get everything down here. We had all sorts of fragile toys... some of which are up to 7' long to get through customs and baggage terminals. I was wearing all my warm tops at once and every pocket was crammed with heavy technical stuff. Anyway... here we were... back at the arena with all that behind us. What now lays ahead of us is a big job and a big ask.

We have to hit the ground running in order to make the most of this upcoming record attempt. There are only three of us here now, myself, Alex Adams and Helen Rollinson. Helena will come down with the rest of the team in a few days.

It has only been 24 hours but we have already got a lot done. The soft hangar is up beside the container and VESTAS SAILROCKET is outside and upside down getting her undersides touched up. The support RIB is outside with the batteries on charge and I'm online and in touch with our litte world.

I have to admit that it was pretty strange coming back here. Each time gets moreso in fact. I think it is because we just have so many strong memories associated with the place. Local Uber Landlord gary from The Raft picked us all up and dropped me off at the yacht club. It's always great to see the familiar faces. A few things had changed but basically... it was exactly the same. That's a good thing in my books. I walked around to the back of the container... and noted that for some reason... I had to force myself to look across at Speed-spot.

I haven't had the time to reflect on why that was the case. It's maybe because I have so much to do between now and the actual time when I face up to that particular 'ring'. Don't get me wrong... I am really looking forward to it and feel mentally up for the challenge that awaits... I know what I have to do in the coming weeks. If we are going to be successful, then something pretty epic is going to happen just over there.

So anyway, the wind came in and the sun was shinig. Walvis Bay was greeting us with a perfect Sailrocket day. We had other things to do. There were a fewe nasty surprises awaiting us when we opened the 'crypt' that is the storage container. Some form of evil had attacked many of the seals on the MUSTO drysuits. They had melted away as if turned to molasses. This is exactly the reason why Helena comes down later... so she can fix the unexpected and perhaps bring down a solution. Right now she is scouring the South coast of England looking for repair kits and even seven whole new suits. I have no idea what may have caused these brilliant bits of kit to go like this... but I'm sure MUSTO will help us find a solution. they are as essential as any other part of VESTAS SAILROCKET.

I am in no doubt, therefore neither should any of you reading this be, in any doubt that this is the last time we will endouvour to max out this particular boat. It has had one hard life. The important bits are still as they should be and that's why I believe we can still do this. I think the boat is very well sorted from a conceptual point of view and it will be that the sound application of all we have learned which will allow us to see the concepts real potential. Our job as a team is simply to be able to wring every last knot of speed out of this boat.

The tent is rattling against the container now as the wind is really honking. Too much for us today. The container door to my right frames the distant Namibian sand dunes glowing golden red in the evening light. A picture of Hydroptere hangs on the door. I hope they are enjoying their time at the top. We will do our best to make it as short as possible:) Our record period begins next Friday... then the fun will begin in earnest.

These are happy days.

Cheers, Paul