GBR Challenge diary 2

Helmsman Andy Beadsworth describes the average day and what they've broken so far...

The overwhelming aspect so far of the campaign has been the logistics of everything. To go sailing on an average day requires an incredible amount of effort. We are constrained by the tide and have a small window each day that we can get the boat in and out of the water using a travel lift configured for a single point lift. The boat weighs approximately 25 tonnes and around 20 of them are in the keel, hence the single point. The lift we have, although being one of the biggest in the UK, is only just big enough, the keel just clearing the cradle at full hoist. It takes five or six people to put the boat in the water and secure it safely. Once the boat is in all the sails need packing and loading.

Around six people pack all the spinnakers and genoas, which are all hung out and dried overnight and repaired if necessary. This can be a two hour operation as each boat has five different Code Genoas, three different Dode asymmetrics and four different Code Spinnakers. On top of that are three different Codes of mainsail with 10 battens in each one. Even though we make a call on the weather, what sails to take, we need spare genoas and spinnakers in case of damage. In the case of spinnakers extras are needed just so we can do our training sessions without having to repack after every hoist and drop. As you can imagine this is a difficult job, especially when we are often constrained to 17 minute windward legs. Nearly everyone jumps in to lug the sails from the loft, either onto the boat or into the support boat (an 11m or 14m RIB). The IACC boats have no engines so all the non-sailing manoeuvring is carried out with the aid of a RIB. Lots to learn there!!!

I think that leaving and approaching the dock were the most anxious moments the first few times we went sailing. So far we have not had any damage incidents! The river is quite restricted, especially around the base, with plenty of commercial traffic. A far cry from throwing the Soling in and pushing off the dock.

Most days we manage to get out on the water for around three to four hours before heading in usually with a job list consisting of daily maintenance checks, a few sail repairs and plenty of rope work. So far we have broken (among other things) two jib sheets (despite being just two days old), one mainsheet (two weeks old), two jib halyards (both new), a few winches (some minor and a couple more seriously), a damaged rudder, a few minor hydraulic problems and quite a few sails. There is a league, set up amongst the trimmers and sail makers, as to who has broken the most sails. Who holds it? Now, that type of information is confidential! For now anyway.

On returning to the dock all the sails are unloaded and the daily checks and maintenance are done while the shore team and some sailors go about the repairs. Nearly every item on the boat is custom made and plenty are made in-house, hence the fully-equipped workshop container that came with the boat - an essential item for a campaign of this magnitude.

Once the sails are unpacked and the boat washed and packed away, then there is a debrief before heading home, feeling pretty exhausted. Having caught an 0700 ferry over in the morning we are usually back in Hamble between 1800/1900. It leaves not much time for anything else besides dinner and bed, after checking the email to get the latest update on the next day's plan. To date I have only missed the ferry once! Some get an hour or so in at the gym, while those needing to plan for the following days/weeks/months need to keep on top of the administration and planning: A far cry from Olympic Yachting even in the Soling!

Good to be busy on such an exciting project and looking forward to the development of our training programme here in the UK - especially lining up on a start line in our first races.