Hi everyone, well I'm delighted to say that VESTAS SAILROCKET is all but back together. We hope to be ready to sail tomorrow(sunday).

As you could imagine, somersaulting a lightweight 30', solid wing-sailed  craft into the air at over 50 knots and landing wing first fully inverted.... leads to a pretty extensive job-list!!!
The team here have done a brilliant job to get everything back ship-shape. Standing here now with newly skinned wing sitting behind me... I'm actually pretty amazed at what we have accomplished.It was not only the repairs, but all the media obligations, e-mails from friends and supporters, record ratification process and day to day organisation that had to be done as well. A few times I found myself laminating carbon on one end of the table whilst replying to e-mails and uploading videos/pics on the other end! It was pretty mad.
So, now the record and subsequent flip is behind us and we are looking forward. There is one very big bottle of MUMM Champagne that remains. It sits in a wooden box under this table as I type. Every other bottle has been popped.

Malcolm and the design team are working hard on understanding what initiated the flip. Obviously once it was initiated the 50+ knot apparent wind force got under the beam and off she went... but why this time and not others? We feel we are coming closer to a full understanding. The foil has been inclined a further 2 degrees to give a larger down component. the wing will remain at the last setting. Chris and the boys at AEROTROPE are right onto looking at the dynamic model of the boat... the 'moving picture' of all the forces and accelerations brought on by gusts and turns. It is clear from the video that the boat did a slight weave before lift off and the effect of this needs to be fully considered. Chris, as usual has already come up with some pretty insightful stuff. Fortunately we have access to some pretty sharp minds who are all chipping in with all their skill and knowledge. As we work through the night here in Namibia doing all the actual physical work, it's great to know that they are dealing with the science.

If we can keep that nose down and maintain the control we have had throughout the last few runs, we have no doubt we can achieve runs over 50 knots. It is an 'if' but the more we look into it the more the issue becomes understood and the outcome predictable. I was pretty impressed in the end with how VESTAS SAILROCKET performed. It was exactly how Malcolm predicted. I was getting ready to sail in stronger winds to achieve runs over 50 but he always maintained that it would be down to flat water and winds of a little over 22 knots. Spot on.

I have watched the video many, many times now. (I wish I had the onboard camera... but thanks to the total incompetence of those who supplied the original dud... we missed out and still don't have one! What is wrong with you people? We throw money at you and only junk comes back! To miss that somersault onboard was criminal). It was pretty spectacular and I am grateful for getting out un-injured. I don't think it will affect the way I sail the boat in the future other than to be a little more respectful of the power at hand. There won't be any 'Maverick flashback' moments only a little more caution based on experience.
During the next runs I want to have a calm moment in the cockpit at over 50 knots. A moment where I just enjoy the 'here-and-now' of sitting in this wonderful boat as it does it's stuff. It's the moment that you work towards for all those years and I don't want to miss it. It will only be a passing split second... and I will need to be calm and in control to realise it... but I want that moment. it will remain forever.

Unfortunately George Dadd had to leave us as he had already pushed back a number of prior comittments to stay for the record. George was a huge assett and put everything into his work. He was fundamental in helping design and build the new control package that was the real breakthrough for us. I pushed him hard and was constantly on his case... I'm so glad that he saw the reason and results of that pressure. It was a brilliant few months for George who will go back to his Marine Engineering course at Southampton University with an absolutely priceless experience firmly under his belt. Thanks for everything George.
Replacing George will be Richy Pemeberton. Richy has been with us from the start and actually designed the foils we are sailing with. He's a Doctor of Hydrodynamics which I hope means he is pretty handy with sand-paper! Richy should be arriving with Malcolm tomorrow (sunday) evening. Malcolm is hopefully coming down to witness the culmination of a lifes work.

We have 6 days left to have a shot at this record. The weather has been pretty crazy recently and we haven't actually missed much. All we ask is another day like the last one please.

To all of you who have, emailed, commented on 'you-tube', phoned, skyped or just dropped in to support and encourage us. Thankyou very much. IT ALL GETS READ AND SPREAD. We will do all we can to do it justice.

We are still waiting for the nitty-gritty details of ratification but there shouldn't be any issues. We must continue to raise the hurdle as I'm sure both Hydroptere and the Macquarrie Innovation boys are keen to knock the 'Rocket' off its perch.They are both capable so we must push on.
We hope to be ready to sail tomorrow. We would like to do a shake-down run first before going all out.

Cheers, Paul and the team.