GBR Challenge diary

Andy Beadworth talks about the latest goings-on in the British America's Cup challenge camp

It seems like only yesterday that we were unpacking the boats and containers for the first time, as excited as children at the arrival of new toys, with Peter Harrison overseeing operations as the proud parent. Yet we are already packing up again to go to New Zealand. The first boat, GBR 44 is now on its way with three containers of equipment and some of our personal belongings and the plans are well underway for the second boat which will be sent after the America's Cup Jubilee is over.

The last few weeks have been, and for certain the next three or four, will be our busiest yet, what with trying to send enough equipment to New Zealand to get us sailing in early October, while keeping enough to prepare, maintain and compete in the America's Cup Jubilee regatta in the two boats still at home. It is our intention to do some training/demonstration match racing during Skandia Life Cowes Week after the daily racing has finished, and we have GBR 52 and GBR 41 entered for the Jubilee Regatta. This alone will be a test of our organisation - 32 people are needed just to sail the boats!

GBR 41 is our third boat (a 1995 America's Cup Vintage) and is now on the water having had a full shake down at the Qantas Classic Cup Regatta hosted by the Royal Solent Yacht Club in Yarmouth. This was the first time the boat had raced since the America's Cup in San Diego, having sailed only a few times since. It proved to be the most time consuming boat to prepare due to its lack of use over the past six years and the fact that parts had been borrowed to stock the newer boats - even by us!

The Qantas America Classic Cup Regatta ran over three days, 20-22 July. Almost perfect conditions prevailed except that as the tide turned in the afternoons the sea breeze's built into the danger zone of 20 knots plus. The old boats built prior to the 2000 America's Cup were designed for the San Diego venue where winds very rarely exceeded 15 knots and races were almost never held in more than 18 knots. It was with some care and trepidation that we approached the conditions in Yarmouth. Nobody knew what, if anything, might break or pull off the boat or what the consequences might be. Chris Mason, our mainsheet trimmer who sailed on the boat then, did inform us that the most he ever sailed it, in 1995, was 18 knots and that had been exciting!

We survived the weekend with only one broken sail, our jib, which let go in 25 knots of breeze. I guess this was not completely unexpected, especially as the sail was built prior to the 1995 America's Cup. We did our best to look after the boat and get it round the course without breakages, but we still had some fun. Our most exciting moment being a spinnaker leg when the wind built to 25 knots and GBR 41 lifted her skirt and took off. It was remarkably quiet on board! Very unlike the feeling in the 2000 boats that seem to dig a bigger hole the faster they go.

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