TeamVodafoneSailing enjoys a busy spring season

by Stuart MacKinven on 17 Dec 2014 Stuart ('Disco') MacKinven, boat captain of the ORMA60 TeamVodafoneSailing reports on their exploits since getting the red flying multihull back on the water, after breaking their wingmast:

Since getting the red bus back together after yet another dismasting. Let's not dwell on that :-)

We've had a busy wee start to the sailing season down here in the NZ.

With a handful of coastal races, some with the maxis that were in town, our regular Wednesday night sessions, and we also had some fun out on the gulf in November with old mate Jimmy Spithill, Pete Burling and Blair Tuke.

Vodafone and Samsung got in their heads it was a good idea to set up a B&G pilot on the yacht, hook that up to a phone, put that phone in the hands of Jimmy and a challenger in a chopper!

And send the red bus around a windward leeward course while we pull the strings and trim while trying to guess what button they would push next!

Disconcerting, an understatement. We had a few teething issues early on, (mostly getting the lads used to the fact no one was in the helm seat) but once the crew 'clenched' and just held on, we got it round the track OK.

Here's a wee clip of the hoon back in to the viaduct after the event.

We are driving in these shots :-) , Jimmy and Blair 'helping out' the film crew in the chopper.