Fossett
Challenges - Cheyenne 1000 Miles From Cape Horn
Sunday 14 March 2004 - 1710 GMT - 1000 miles W/NW
of Cape Horn: Although restricted to 2nd reef
in the mainsail due to yesterday's damaged mast
track (until calmer waters for a repair day are
available - certainly after Cape Horn), Steve
Fossett and crew aboard Cheyenne logged 167 nm
over the past 12 hours in lighter NW winds, making
progress to the Cape and maintaining their lead
over the 2002 RTW record track of Orange at just
over 2000 miles.
Below
we have reports from senior crew from last night
- before and after the mast track incident:
-
Watch Captain Brian Thompson's prescient discussion
of the stresses to which the rig is put - written
before the incident.
-
Watch Captain David Scully's description of the
possible repair scenario.
Cheyenne
watch captain David Scully described yesterday's
incident with the mast track - and the possibilities
for its repair:
writing for www.Yachting-world.com www.Yachting-world.com
"March 13th: Once again, the worst has
happened. Sailing in violent seas this morning,
the headboard car, which carries the weight of
the mainsail, and locks it into position on the
mast, was torn from the mast track along with
the reinforced section of track upon which it
was riding. A the moment we are proceeding toward
Cape Horn under double reefed main and headsail,
all chance of a record time to the Horn, gone.
This
is a devastating breakdown, but perhaps not unrecoverable.
The headboard car is largely undamaged. The mast
track is, of course, destroyed at the first reef
position. It may be possible to remove section
of track from the third reef position, and use
it to replace the damaged area at the first reef
position. We will then have to pirate some track
sections from other places on the boat to replace
the reinforced area we are stealing. This will
give us back our potential to raise the mainsail
to full hoist, and use the first reef position,
at the expense of using the third reef. Hopefully
the trip up the Atlantic can be accomplished in
moderate weather.
This
is not a straightforward repair at sea. We will
have to remove a dozen sheared bolts using our
battery drill and bolt removal tools. Then the
third reef insert will have to be removed, and
bolted on to the first reef position. Finally,
several odd bits fo track will have to be spliced
into the hole this leaves. And all this must be
done hanging from a halyard, 30 meters above the
deck, in a seaway.
We
have enough sail up to make it around the Horn.
As soon as we pass this milestone, we will be
looking for a calm spot to make the repair. Naturally,
the crew is devastated, but not despairing. To
be sailing a crippled boat is a most frustrating
experience. To be losing time on Orange is worse.
But there is still the hope that this can be repaired
and that we can complete our mission, and while
hope persists, we must remain confident."
For
further details and regular position updates,
please see: www.fossettchallenge.com
