One Girls Ocean Challenge

July 10, 2013

Today’s Mission……. Strip the mast on Xoomer and get it ready to pull for full inspection after our big explosion on the weekend.  Pulling the mast isn’t as easy as on the mini.  Firstly, the mast is about a million miles tall, so we need a crane.  Secondly, it weighs more than fifty pounds, so you can’t lift it by hand!  Lastly, there are several things connected to the mast that needs disassembling.  So my job today is to get to the boat ahead of the unstepping crew and get it all ready to go for them.  It’s supposed to rain and blow about fifty tonight!  Could be a little hectic  hahahah 🙂

Diane

July 8, 2013
Well this was an interesting finish to the racing weekend….. We went into Sunday in second place, only one point out of first.  We were smoking fast in the first race and on our way up to first.  In the second race we saw one of our competitors have trouble with their headsail and then a second competitor also having difficulties and abandoned.  The wind was around 16 knots.  Then, as we were closing range on our upwind marks…ready to make the turn and run to the finish line….we heard an “earth shattering kaboom”.  In an instant everyone wet into “safety” mode.  Nothing fell down or appeared broken, but the standing rigging had become very very loose.  We took the sails down and abandoned our race for safety.  The rig will get pulled and will receive a full inspection, but in the meantime, it didn’t come crashing down on anyone!  I love this crew and this boat!  Everyone understood and respected the situation.  We’ll come back to conquer again another day.  In the meantime, I’m reminded of Samantha Davies when she got dismasted on Saveol…..Sometimes these things are out of our hands!

Diane

July 6, 2013
PCYC course racing on Xoomer Xpress an X-35.  The forecast is for light variable winds less than 5 knots before lunch and 5-10ish after lunch???? Comeonnnnne wind gods!!!!  🙂
Diane

July 1, 2013

HAPPY CANADA DAY!  I am sooooo proud to be carrying the Canadian flag across the start line of the Mini Transat race!  But, before we get back to France, we’re off to the Rimouski Anticosti race with   and , on another Mini “Antidote”.  650 miles from Rimouski, up and around Anticosti Island and back to Rimouski double handed.