Ellen update

Castorama B&Q test sailing in Auckland

Ellen MacArthur's new 75ft Castorama B&Q trimaran arrived in Auckland nearly four weeks ago following her launch in Sydney on 8 January. The launch marked the start of testing B&Q in her own environment - out on the ocean.

Ellen brings us up to date with their progress: "On the boat testing front, we have been testing everything from watermakers to sails, charging to helming positions. It has been great to be in Auckland where it is so easy to get out sailing, and for much of the testing in sheltered conditions where it's easier to look at sail shapes and study things.

"Since our sail from Australia we have been out overnight, just testing the charging and electrical systems. I think, as we are right now, we are happy with how she sails and we're really looking forward to seeing how she handles in the bigger seas of the southern ocean. In many ways that's the most important part of the testing and vital for the success of the project as a whole. Her averages in waves are absolutely crucial, we just have to wait and see!!!

"Without doubt, I can feel a strong bond with the boat, and that bond is getting stronger the more we sail, and the more miles we sail together. I am really looking forward to the part of the trip after the Falklands up to the northern hemisphere... It will be great to be alone at sea again, and it's very different when you have more thinking time and are able to sail without being in a race. I'm looking forward to enjoying being out there!

The boat has come out of the water for a few days and we're doing some work on the daggerboard and some alterations to the rudder blades. Nothing really major though, so we will be out for just a few days rather than a few weeks! From a structural point of view too, we just wanted to check all over her and give her a thorough look over before she sets off to sail half way around the world!

Once back in the water, we will sail to bed everything back in again and be sure that she is okay. We will most likely do an overnight sail too, just as a final check for the systems. Finally we will stock up the boat! The food is sorted, the spares going in to their boxes day by day, and the lists getting shorter and shorter rather than longer and longer!

"For the delivery trip, I will be sailing with Castorama B&Q's boat captain, Loik Gallon and Mark Thomas - three is a good number, I think! I will be sailing with this crew to the Falkland Islands and from there I will be on my own. The delivery is an important time to continue checking the systems, such as, autopilots, comms, etc, as well as the sails. But, perhaps, more importantly, we will have the first opportunity to really push the boat in real southern ocean conditions and to see how she handles this.