Volvo Ocean Race - Team Sanya repairs underway

by Leslie Greenhalgh and Volvo Ocean Race on 24 Dec 2011 Team Sanya's shore team have arrived in Madagascar and yesterday in Fort Dauphin, the team took their mast out and started the process of repair.

They are working closely with Future Fibres, the manufacturer of the rigging system, to agree on the optimal solution. Frano Tregaskis, Rigger for Team Sanya is travelling today from Madagascar to Valencia in Spain with the spreaders and will remain in Valencia with Future Fibres whilst they preparation the new rigging system.

Towards the end of December, the new rigging system will be transported by air freight out to the race boat in Madagascar and the team will work on completing the process as some cooking/curing of the new rigging will need to take place on site. Once the rigging is in the place, the mast will be re-stepped and some ‘on-dock’ tuning will follow.

In order to ensure satisfaction by all parties on the repair and fitness for purpose of the new rigging system, a number of days of sea trials will take place in early January off the coast of Madagascar before everyone is fully confident of the repair process that has been taken place.

The team and boat will then move to the safe haven port to be there by Mid-January and will wait there until the rest of the fleet are transported from the first safe haven port after their re-start in Abu Dhabi to the second safe haven port as part of Leg 3.

Team Sanya is totally focused on taking the time to ensure the repair is 100% to their satisfaction and they can enter the second part of Leg 3 with full confidence to enable them to demonstrate the team’s ability to deliver results as they approach their home port of Sanya.

In his last update from the island before taking a few days rest over the festive period, Sanya media crew member Andrés Soriano said the shore team were raring to go in the race to get the team back into the Volvo Ocean Race.

'The sailing team are taking a short break while we wait for the new rigging parts to be delivered so we are all taking the opportunity to spend a few days at home and recuperate to ensure we are 100 per cent ready for Leg 3,' Soriano wrote.

'We will be back in Madagascar on the 2nd of Jan, for the final preparations. Just wanted to say a quick thank you to our shore team who have arrived now in Madagascar, a little earlier than they expected and in a different place than they expected too. As ever they are 100 per cent focused and determined to get us back on the race track as quickly as possible.

'We would also like to thank International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) for all their help and support throughout our stay here, as well as the staff of the Port of Ehola and the Rio Tinto terminal.'

'Lastly to the people of Madagascar, especially Fort Dauphin, who have been incredibly welcoming and supportive throughout our unexpected pit stop in their country.'

Team Sanya were forced to suspend racing and divert to Madagascar on day 9 while leading the fleet on leg 2 by around 200 nautical miles, when a section of their rigging broke.

Volvo Ocean Race website