Race 3 - Day 15
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 15: Cape Town to Fremantle
15 November

Now this is not a position I would like to be in – but I thought I would share with you all how our morning has panned out.

0230 UTC (0830 boat time)

Sitting having a leisurely breakfast, enjoying the fact that the boat is flat. As it is Steve's birthday we were treated to boiled eggs.

Then bang.

James, Lance and I donned the life jackets and went on deck. I thought when I got up there I would see a sail in the water as I thought a halyard has gone, Lance thought a sheet had gone and James thought we had hit something.

None of us were correct.

Unfortunately, the shackle at the bottom of the outer forestay has broken. Now in very simple terms (this is for you Dee Dee!) we have big bits of very strong highly tensioned wire that hold the mast up. At the front of the boat we have 2, one that goes all the way to the top of the mast and one that goes ¾ of the way up. So, the one that has broken is the one that goes all the way up.

The risk of this breaking is that the mast can come down. So, the team jumped into action. Spinnaker and Yankee halyards were ground on in its place, sails were eased, some expert helming by JV to take the pressure off the sales but not let them flog. We then headed up the bow to survey the damage and attempt a running repair. Lance was wearing a pair of tights and a mid-layer jacket, James in his pyjamas and I was barefoot. It was right at this time James commented on how much we had all spent on dry suits!

James and Lance set about securing the swinging forestay so we could drop the sail that was attached to it. At this time I placed a call to Mark Light, the Race Director, to inform him of the situation and to enquire about spare parts. We were at breakfast time but it would have been about 3am GMT. I can’t imagine what must run through the Race Director’s head to receive a call at that time in the morning. Especially when it’s my voice and not the skippers. Bit of a brutal wake up call. But once he heard no-one was hurt and the crew/skipper was fine I am sure he relaxed a bit!

The guys managed to secure the forestay and the team wrestled down the Yankee 1 and I think everyone is starting to come to terms that our race for this leg is over.

I hope we can find a fix as this leg so far has been amazing. Even though the weather has been challenging and people’s bodies are battered and bruised, the atmosphere on board has been fantastic. It has been a really positive environment where everyone has pulled together as a team.

James and I were only talking the other day saying that our watches were a pleasure to work with – not only do we have 2 amazing assistant watch leaders in Wozza and Paulie but everyone's enthusiasm is infectious and I think this was showing in our position results as we were all gunning for a podium.

Update 0530

You can’t keep the Pink Panther down – everyone is racking their brains how to get this sorted and keep on racing! Plans are afoot!

Update 0600

JV is drysuited up and we are sending him over the bow into the water to try and undo the bobstay shackle. We figure we can use this to replace the one that is broken. He is up to his neck in water and it’s refusing to budge.

Lance calls for all hands on deck... everybody behind the steering wheels... what are we doing? Ah we are all ballast; the bow is now a foot out the water. JV still can’t budge the thing... time for Plan C!

While we have the whole crew together, there is an impromptu happy birthday sing song for Steve! Now this is a birthday I guess he won’t forget.

Update 0700

Greg from the Maintenance team calls and comes up with a suggestion of how we can use the bobstay shackle - a low friction ring and some rope if we still can’t budge the shackle.

Update 0715

James (not a real doctor, aspiring dentist, formally dreamboat, formally Mcsmokey, now McFeelings) McFee is suited up and sent over the bow to have another go at removing the shackle – this time with our emergency tiller as a lever. No joy. Plan D.

Update 0716

Come up with Plan D.

Update 0800

Lance and James drysuited up and both on the bow, the plan is as follows: fix it!

Update 1030

Time for the boys to have a brew and a well-deserved fustard cream (fake custard cream)!

Update 1100

Yankee 1 up and we are sailing! WOOHOO!

Now, today has been a bit of a roller-coaster of emotions:

1.How the hell will I explain to Dee that I will be late into Fremantle! Oh God!

2.Sad that we may be out of the race

3.Proud of the team pulling together and coming up with suggestions and fixes

4.LOVE that through the whole day there has still been laughter – can’t keep the Pink Panther crew down!

5.Joy that this may not be over and we can fix this

6.Panic that I haven’t looked at the weather!

So that’s it – we are on our way again – we may have checked out of the race for a few hours, but we can make that back. We are not sure yet if we are able to fly a spinnaker again this leg, much to the joy of Helen and Mikey (sail repairers extraordinaire). Hang on a second... where were Helen and Mikey at 0230 this morning and why can’t I find the bolt cutters!