Monday greetings hot from the VESTAS SAILROCKET container at the Walvis Bay YC in Namibia.

It's looking like Namibia is the place to be for speed-sailing at the moment.

A few days ago we had a big blow come through. A fine mica dust fills the air and gets everywhere. even the container shakes around and the skins on the wingsail which hangs inside along one wall 'pant' as the gusts swirl through. We keep the door open just enough so that we still get a signal for our internet system. the internet was on so that we could monitor what was happening with the speed record attempt further down the coast in Luderitz. If it was windy here... it was going to be at least 10 knots windier down there.

I was braced for the news that they had done 50 knots. In fact I was pretty much resigned to it. When the news came through that Sebastian Cattalan had done 50.1 it didn't affect me very much. It is actually very motivating. Helena was confident that the time would be knocked down whilst I didn't mind either way. 50 knots will just be another number that comes and goes. If we were the first to 50 tomorrow and another craft went faster a couple of weeks later... I wouldn't be too happy about it. My own personal appetite would not be satisfied. This aspect is one of the main reasons we settled on the concept behind VESTAS SAILROCKET. It has the potential to go a lot faster. The Mk II will be designed for a whole new era of speed sailing and aspects of the current boat are now being built with this in mind.

It was only later that night as we lay in bed that Brad read that the mythical 50 knot 'Barrier' hadn't been broken and that the official speed was a shade under at 49.85. It was obviously an incredible day in Luderitz where the kites finally moved to the top rungs of the speed sailing ladder. A very impressive achievement which I'm sure they will top. It's great that they have done it in 'deep' water and not in a puddle as I personally think it makes it all the more valid. It was a very windy day however where the tide was right. They have three weeks or so left to raise the bar some more... but... those days are still a luxurious commodity. I would not be surprised if they didn't get another one where it all comes together. We'll see. If they do then good luck to them all. They are doing a great job and as a fan of all speed sailing I'm really enjoying following their antics.

Righto, back here we are making great progress. The moulds have arrived from Capetown and we have already made the new rudder skins and carbon stock. I will bond them all together today. We have made a laser alignment jig for the main foil so that we can accurately align the new steering system to within small fractions of a degree. We had Lathes spinning throughout the weekend At BRUMAR TURNING SERVICES so as to get parts made to quite exacting tolerances. Jose and Dan are giving it their all to get this right. I wanted to have it done by today and am keeping the pressure on the whole team... but I won't compromise the quality purely for a deadline. This one has to be right. If it is... then the rest of our project goes into 'fast forward'.

Cheers, Paul

p.s. I know... I know... pictures. Just been very busy!