...And it's been a blast!

So we didn't quite get the conditions we were hoping for yesterday. Close... but no cigar. We went and had our first crack at the nautical mile in winds which were gusting from 15 to 21 knots and a little west. I had to start around the corner in second lagoon as the Walvis Speed-spot is only 1.04 nautical miles long and I needed to hit it at speed. There wasn't enough wind to blast VESTAS SAILROCKET up to speed before the course in a short amount of space so we had to carry the slow start up speed in our nautical mile run. Once up and away I got everything sheeted in, the wind angle readout had played up at the start so I had to guesstimate the wing angle. There was alot of spray off the front planing surface due to the increased downforce we had put on it after our flip. Visibility wasn't good. I could feel the accelerations and de-accelerations as I dived through the gusts. Sometimes it felt fast, sometimes not. I couldn't see the end of the course and had to line up on things in the distance. When I guessed I was off the end I hit the flap release and spun into the wind... but still ended up out in the lagoon. I had peaked at 43.11 knots, done 500 meters in 41.68 knots, 1000 meters at 39.6 knots and the nautical mile at 36.8 knots. A good first try in moderate winds but nothing earth shattering.

I ran off up into the lagoon until I hit a mudbank in the middle and everyone came in the RIB to help me lower the rig. We had to lift the hull of VESTAS SAILROCKET onto the RIB and walk it back out of the lagoon.

The sunset was magnificent.

And that is how our first world record attempt ended.

I was happy that we gave it our absolute best shot. We got some records and leave as the fastest 'boat' in the world... but the one we want the most, the outright world speed sailing record, remains in the hands of the kiters.

We will have to come back for that one. And we will.

Overall it has been a brilliant four and a half months with one challenge after another. We conquered our steering problem after a big crash, had another crash whilst perfecting it... and then things started to happen quickly. the speeds went through the roof and did so all the way until the boat itself tried to go through the roof. We repaired her literally in record time and came back out for more. The wind denied us in the end but then we knew we were making an attempt out of season.

We will leave Walvis content yet restless in the knowledge that it isn't over.

VESTAS SAILROCKET is now fully packed up and as I write this we are getting set to go for one last blast down the speed-spot... on windsurfers. We will just go for fun and enjoy this amazing spot.

Thanks to everyone who has helped. You know who you are. Our success is shared and only possible because of a collective and overwhelming force.

Cheers, Paul.

Well the operations base is now the timing hut on speed-spot. We have a full team and it is close... so close to being run-worthy conditions. The wind is gusting to 22 knots occasionally but generally around 19 knots mean average. The bigger issue is the direction. It is still around 15-20 degrees too far west. A slight change in these two key parameters will see us all spring into action. We are watching the windsurfers and getting their feedback off the course. It agrees with our Tacktick instrumentation. We are hoping that the SSW wind begins to lock in towards sunset. If it does, we are ready.

We will try and make one run... our first ever shot at the nautical mile!

cheers, Paul.

The covers are off VESTAS SAILROCKET and all the electronics are onboard.

We are trying to get whoever is available to come out and help. Everyone is busy. it is a typical windy, sunny summers day. The wind is definitely still too west for us right now but it only has to swing a little. Helena has gone out in the RIB to have a closer look and check the course.

When I jumped in the car to go 'recruiting' a moment ago there was a song on the radio when I turned the key. It was the Newton Falkner song we used on the video when we did our first 40 knot run a little over a year ago. That was a 'last ditch against the odds' run as well. Hmmm... well if it turns out that way again I'll be pretty happy.

So we are getting ready to roll but we still need a few key pieces to drop into place. The dream run would be to nail the mile and outright on the one run... at sunset... on the last day. (Don't think about it Paul... just keep checking everything and do your bit well. The rest is out of your hands.)

If we go for it... then there will hopefully still be a live feed. We are short of people.

Cheers, Paul.

I know how this game works... we start pulling the boat apart and packing up as the record attempt period is now over and we are due to fly out in a couple of days... and once past the point of no return... up comes the wind and we stand there looking at perfect conditions after weeks of waiting... and we have blown it! That would be a typical speed sailing scenario.

Well not this time.

We aren't packing up until the last minute and we have notified the WSSRC that we want to extend our period for another day. Helena and I have begun packing everything else up but VESTAS SAILROCKET. More team members have left so we will have to grab whoever we can.

The wind is blowing... but it is gusty and from the west. I give us a 50-50 chance of even getting out onto the course. If we do it will be later in the day. I reckon we will head out around 4p.m. given a chance. After today the forecast is pretty flat so this will definitely be it for us ... for now.

Stranger things have happened to us before. Come on Walvis, give us one more shot at the title. One more chance to finish it once and for all.

Never give up.

Cheers, Paul

p.s. the WSSRC have just texted through an agreement to the extension.