Crew Blog

The mammoth task ahead

16 April 2008

Mammoth Task AheadAs our approach into Santa Cruz nears, we can’t help but think of those crews who have just finished Race 8 of Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race. We, along with Durban 2010 and Beyond, still have around 1000nm to go before a very short pit stop and then we can finally start racing again alongside the rest of the fleet. My thoughts are dominated by the mammoth task that is ahead of us. To get the boat race fit in such a short period of time, we need to do as many of our jobs on route into Santa Cruz in the hope that we can start racing again on the 24th. My main worry is of the countless hours of rig work to be done, covering up of all sharp edges, split pins, spreader tips, lacing on spreaders; the list continues and all of which take more time than you think. They are all so much easier when the boat is not swaying from side to side and up and down – being tossed around up the mast is like trying to work in a washing machine!Thankfully, the jobs at deck level are being done first which will hopefully give me a few hours in Santa Cruz to do all those mast jobs, which will be done in a flash instead of being tossed around like a rag doll. I must congratulate Uniquely Singapore for winning this leg. A massive well done from us all and it’s good to see Mark and his crew show those greedy blighters (New York, Hull and Humber and Glasgow: Scotland with Style -sorry Daff) who is boss again and to give someone else a chance of glory.Jack HealdWestern Australia2011.com doing 7.8VMG towards Santa Cruz