SEB update

by Gurra Krantz on 20 Nov 2001 ROI *

We hope and believe we have sorted out everything with the rig and look
forward to the next firehouse session tomorrow and the following days. The
grib files show more wind to the north and we will fly Kevlar sails in the
classic “110 [degrees] apparent wind angle mode in too much breeze”. This,
again, means face mask on, head down and just go. Whether the difference
in wind between north and south is enough to get our investment back
remains to be seen. Obviously we believe so as we are here in the north.
We did not calculate with 60 miles loss to the leading boats to get here
but that also includes some down time as well for us.

Despite the fact that we wanted to stay with the fleet we found ourselves
alone here in the north until ASSA ABLOY and illbruck joined us. As the
boats in the south are more spread out we can now say that we are with the
majority of the fleet, in total three boats. All three boats are sailing
high to get around the Kerguelen Island and in to the new wind from the
north. Quite a bit of breeze is expected and the three of us will then be
able to sail a lower course and more open wind angle than the boats in the
south. That is where we hope not just get our money back, but also make a
* return on investment. This is some bank talk I picked up lately from our
main sponsor SEB. I hope they do not have to deal with a market that is as
volatile as the weather.

Onboard we have Matthew Humphries who skippered dolphin + youth / Reebok
in the Whitbread 93/94 and Glen Kessels who sailed on the same boat. They
made a stop here at Kerguelen to make repairs on a broken rudder. They
found 50 French scientists in some dodgy research program and what was
more apparent was that there was not a single woman in that group. They
fixed the rudder and without further delay they left. We were asked by
them to keep distance to the island this time.

Inside our boat we have a great mix of small expected leaks, major
unexpected leaks and serious condensation. Wet is our middle name and
having just said that, this is the most dry V.O.60 I have ever sailed on.
The twin hatches take a bit of water but not at all as much as expected.
We found some fine holes in the sleeve for our weed knife. The sleeve goes
from the bottom of the inside of the hull up to the inside of the deck. On
each side of the sleeve we have, over 15 knots of boat speed, a fountain
in several directions. As you probably know by now, we have spent 90% of
our time in higher speeds for days. Tony Mutter got tired of getting
sprayed on, when sitting on the toilet and simply wrapped tape around it.
Now it goes conveniently straight down into the bilge along the sleeve.

Gurra Krantz
SEB