I think all of the above have gone very well. We weighed in as we had planned, PUMA took second overall for the In-Port series and there was nothing wrong with our efforts on Christmas (barbeque on the beach) and New Years Eve!
We are now doing our final shake down sailing slots before (hopefully) putting the boat into lock down a day or two before the Singapore re-start this coming Sunday.
This next leg up to China is one that has been worrying a few of us for a while in regard to being one of the biggest tests of the boat and the crew. It is not a very pleasant trip north, especially this time of year, and the sea state will not make it comfortable. Add to it the plummeting temperature as you sail further north and you have all the makings for plenty of drama on the way.
As I had mentioned in a blog last month with regard to India as a stop over, what we had for oppressive heat there, we will get sub zero temperatures in China. This will make for a very tough stop over all around, from using cranes to haul the boats out, to the simple fact that if we're not in a heated shed once out of the water all our resin, paints and glues will freeze- rendering them useless to us. Plus the time crunch of only six real working days to have the boats ready for an In-Port race after just having it beat upwind for ten to eleven days (no weather briefing has shown the breeze going aft of the mast at any stage of this leg.) Leg Four is shaping up as a pretty tough stop over ahead. We all joke about how nice a cooler temperature will be but this will be a little more extreme than we need.
As always, our shore team here in Singapore has done a fantastic job. Everyone from the sail makers getting all our re-cuts and new sails measured in, to the rest of the guys doing a great job in getting the boat into measurement trim and set up for both the in port and offshore legs. I think I speak for all of our team when I say that we all appreciate the effort Jess (Lynskey) and Farrah (Reid) have put in keeping us well fed and happy from their mobile kitchen as it has not been easy for them with the two base set up we have had to use here due to the Volvo Race Village and the actual haul out area being in two different locations.
So we now put the Singapore chapter behind us. Next week we will dig into our old Newport winter clothes that I had hoped had gone away for good, only to have to wear them in a few days when we get to China. We all wish the boys onboard a very safe and successful leg to China.
Neil Cox
ps. If anyone has seen Rick Deppe's camera bracket please let him know!
