GBR Challenge diary 1

Neal McDonald describes life in the British America's Cup challenger camp

There is plenty of work for all on and off the water. In parallel with sailing one boat and all the paraphernalia that goes with that (sail packing, maintenance, launching and recovery) the team also has to cope with keeping fit, putting the other Japanese boats together, planning our winter's training in New Zealand and sorting out the design and build of the new boat. Up to now the majority of my time has been spent putting the rigs together to make sure we get all three boats up and running by mid-summer. We have containers full of rods, spreaders, booms and kite poles and I'm only now really getting to grips with just what bit belongs where.
Most of my days start at 0700 getting a RIB across to Cowes - 20 or more of us take the trip across the Solent every day. Once I arrive I dive into the rigging and mast containers while everyone else scurries off to do their respective jobs. Sails are packed, Met briefings are prepared and the boat is equipped for sea. The crew list is made up and the briefing for the day tells us all that is going on. Those who are off on the water get into their sailing gear. Those on the shore (often including me at this stage) get stuck into the day's work.

Every day the top level of our office block is beavering away with the design work, tank testing, organising etc - all that is necessary to get the ground work done for the new boat. Not only are we lucky enough to have two of the key design team members of past Nippon Challenges with us but a constant stream of our best UK designers are involved too. While the boys are out doing manoeuvres on the water and learning about the boats these guys in the design office are responsible for our new boat.

Currently I have been spreading my time between putting together and maintaining our four masts, thinking about the design and build of our new mast and going sailing when I can - in short, never a dull or idle moment.

Our first couple of months has certainly reinforced how much catching up we have to do. However we have to be happy how much of a jump start Peter has given us. For me, however, the most encouraging aspect of it all is the enthusiasm that the guys appear to have; if we can keep that going all the way through we will be half way there.

The days get longer, the team gets larger, but the reality that Britain finally has a real contender for the America's Cup makes every challenge we encounter easier to take on.