Helena's blog

Last day of Round 1...

Helena — Tue, 31 May 2011 10:48:57 +0000

Hi all, well as I type this the boys are clanging around on the roof of the container above me pulling down the shade tent for the boat. We are packing everything into the container in preparation for tomorrows departure.

The last thing we will pack up is the boat itself as we still hope to get one last sail in today. The wind is forecast to blow up to 24 knots although the morning is glassy calm. I can hear the old, rickety wind vane starting to clatter outside so it seems that the wind is coming in now.

Live from the timing hut on 'speed-spot'... it's pumping alright.

Helena — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:49:01 +0000

Hi all, well we are all crowded into the half sunken timing hut on speed-spot. The wind is pumping outside. We did our first run in winds gusting to 28 knots. It went ok from a handling perspective although we didn't manage to get the wing unstalled. We did get up to 21 knots with the 'wedge' foil.... but we obviously need to get a better starting sequence. I had to bare away from the beach just as she started to lift out as the acceleration wasn't as good as with the 'normal' sub cavitating foil.

30 knots+. All ladders, no snakes!

Helena — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:18:42 +0000

A very promising day today as VESTAS Sailrocket 2 thrust the team effortlessly into the fridge for the 30 knot bottle of Pol Roger champagne. Nice. I'm not going to even try and dramatise it as it felt so cruisy and natural. VSR2 is simply dropping into her element and she feels right. I have no doubt that we will just as easily knock the next bottle over. Damn she felt rock solid. Like a grunty car slipping into top gear at 50 mph... you know a whole world of speed... I just said I wasn't going to do that. It was cool though.

WRA4 RUN 12 INTO THE TWILIGHT

Helena — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:13:18 +0000

The rig is up again, and the sun is down. We are hoping we might just get that one awesome gust, just 20 seconds is all we want.

We will again comment when the run is over.

WRA 4 RUN 11 - LAST BLAST BEFORE THE SUN SETS

Helena — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:23:24 +0000

After a run in an average of around 22 knots, giving a 500m average of 47.15 knots on the GT-11, a number of us are sitting here in the speed hut willing the wind to blow just that little bit more. The rest of the team are back up the top of the course and the rig is going up. The sun is going down quickly... whatever happens it will be a spectacular run.

WRA 4 RUN 10

Helena — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:26:24 +0000

Having waited out at speed spot since 1pm, they are now putting the rig up at the top of the course. The wind is still quite variable, from 18-26 knots but they are ready to go as soon as the wind plays ball! We will update again when the run is over.