Ethiad Stadium replacement mast gets loaded

by Jody O'Brien on 17 Dec 2009
There has been movement overnight in the race to get the replacement mast out of Europe for the Etihad Stadium Supermaxi.

The 45 metres of carbon fibre was cut in two for ease and speed of transport by both road and air – but there was a challenge before the mast even left the yard at La Ciotat in France.

'We had to undertake some last minute negotiation with the driver to continue travelling through the night and get another driver as well, so the mast could arrive in Liege a little earlier 'Wharington said this morning.

The package is now very close to Liege Freight Terminal – about 50 miles south east of Brussels.

Once loaded, it will now fly to Singapore, not Hong Kong as first thought.

The reason for the change in its first stop over point is because it is believed it has a better chance of getting a flight to Sydney from there.

Communication is still progressing on this connection to Sydney and it is hoped that there will be a confirmation later today.
'It’s a little concerning that we haven’t got this connecting flight locked in yet, however we are all doing our best ! ' said Grant.

Work will continue today on all the changed pins and attachments on the boat to make way for the replacement mast. There is a mammoth sized list of jobs to do.

'We need to install new chainplates as well....although the task is huge, it will certainly make the whisky in Hobart taste all the better...'

So for Grant and his crew, a number of whom are directly involved with the planning and execution of the project to install the new mast, it’s been another night with not much, or at best - very restless sleep.

'What we’ve been through the last few days and what we’ve got ahead of us is certainly not ideal, but we appear to be making some headway in our race to get to the start line on Boxing Day for the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart' said Wharington.

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