Yesterday conditions moderated sufficiently for us to work at getting the mainsail back onto the boom and reattached to the mast. Everything is taking far longer than we imagined with the mast. Alex spent yet another hour up our stumpy mast rigging a 2:1 halyard. Given the obvious pain he has from his hand this was a magnificent effort and once this was set the first section of mainsail was loaded onto the mast track.
The mainsail is attached to the mast by cars, each car has 50 or so balls in a race each of which need to be loaded one by one, Alex with his injured hand and me with hypersensitive frost nipped finger tips clumsily loaded each car with balls onto a small section of track before sliding them in the correct sequence onto the mast track. With the boat getting thrown around in the swell this was truly frustrating work, balls rolling everywhere, but finally, just as the weather took a turn for the worse with the wind increasing and visibility reducing we hoisted and gently tensioned the mainsails third reef to accompany our staysail - the maximum sail we can now set.
Immediately our speed was up to 10 kts and Ecover feels like a sail boat once more, Cape Town seems that bit closer.
Today our progress continues to be good and we have had an easy day talking, eating and getting to know each other better. Naturally much of the discussion hinges around our mutual passion - sailboats. We both are blessed with understanding sponsors - everyone has been hugely supportive, which helps both of us to feel more positive about our situation. This evening Alex produced a corned beef pasta as we watched a DVD, all very civilised, but confusing - each of us would far prefer to still be in the cut and thrust of the race.
Earlier I joined our Southampton based team in a telephone conference to discuss the planning for the coming week and beyond. All the information and costing are still being gathered which will allow us to make a valued judgment as to what comes next, everyone is working flat out to plan for each scenario - this is as difficult for them as me - everything we do as a team is geared in the direction of completion and success - then fate strikes a blow - and everything must change. Yacht Racing is certainly no place for people who cannot accept change.
Andrea and Soren were due to board a plane for Fremantle on Wednesday, now deferred - Soren is well and truly confused and now worried that Santa himself will not be able to keep up with the pace of these changes - he really need not worry! - Santa's just a bit busy right now - making his way up from the South Pole!.
