KINGFISHER2 HEADING FOR PLYMOUTH PITSTOP
Tuesday, 28 January 2003

* KINGFISHER2 is already well on her way towards Plymouth, where she will find shelter tonight to effect the necessary repairs to her mast track. A new estimated departure will become more evident once that work begins tomorrow morning (Tuesday morning). ETA Plymouth is 2000 – 0100 tonight. Currently she is sailing comfortably under headsail alone, but in quite rough English Channel conditions.

* “It's not easy to sit here writing the news that KINGFISHER2 has been unable to start the Jules Verne this morning....” Email in from Ellen late this morning...in full below.

* THE PROBLEM DISCOVERED does not actually stop the boat sailing – and has not. However, it is important to ensure before leaving for 26,000 tough miles that the boat is in A1 condition. Mark Turner Project Director added “These boats are complex racing machines, we of course are disappointed to find this kind of problem right on the start line – however, to discover it in 2 weeks time would have been far worse. Right now we are focused on making the fastest turnaround time as possible – that includes the shore team travelling to Plymouth, and getting the necessary materials in place. With the assistance of the Maiden II project, who are providing the short length of replacement track, we hope to be ready to go in days rather than weeks. Our sincerest thanks to Maiden II for their vital support at this stage. ”

* THE IMMEDIATE REPAIR INVOLVES replacing a short length of mast track (between 1 and 4 metres). This track is custom, and potentially hard to find. In a demonstration of the spirit that the sport of ocean racing still maintains, Tracy Edwards and her catamaran Maiden II (a sistership to KINGFISHER2, and possibly the only boat that has this same gauge track) have offered to provide the small length of track required to make a fast repair.

Tracy Edwards, project director of Maiden II, commented:
“We received a call from Team Kingfisher this morning after they developed a technical problem with their mast track. The weather window they are hoping to set sail in will close in 48 hours and we are the only boat with the same mast track, so their only option to start the Jules Verne this week would be for us to lend them ours. Although Ellen and I are obviously rivals on the water, it would be great for British sailing if she was able to capture the Jules Verne record, and, as a result, we were more than happy to provide whatever assistance we could to set them back on-course"

"There are not many sports that you would see one rival helping another, and I know some people will find it surprising that we are happy to come to the rescue of a rival team, but I think this is proof of the great respect ocean sailors have for one another. We will not be racing again until May 2003 so it will not affect our future schedule".

"I hope the guys from Kingfisher can now get our mast track fitted as quickly as possible. We broke four world records with it in 2002 so I hope that it brings them the same good fortune in their Jules Verne attempt!”

* The track itself, along with the mast, was brand new just a few months ago and has shown no previous indication of any problems despite nearly 3000 miles of testing. The damage is restricted to a small area of the track, and the mast and attachment of the track to the mast appear 100% sound.

* KINGFISHER2 is likely to moor in Plymouth Sound rather than actually come alongside, at least initially. The crew will come ashore , but will otherwise remain ready to depart as soon as the technical solution is put in place – ie status AMBER.

EMAIL FROM ELLEN RECEIVED LATE MORNING

It's not easy to sit here writing the news that KINGFISHER2 has been unable to start the Jules Verne this morning. We sailed past the start line at sunrise this morning - with just an hour to go before our expected departure time. As a matter course we were undergoing final checks, and we spotted some black marks on the mast - which with further examination proved to be a problem unsolvable at sea. With a 3 to 4 metre swell any examinations were difficult, but Hendo and Ronny made an external and internal examination [NB it is actually possible to go up the inside of the enormous 38 metre carbon wing mast]. The verdict was a like a kick in the guts for the Kingfisher team, but our only option was clear. We have to make a pit stop now, for which we have chosen Plymouth as it gives us a better chance of leaving in this weather window... This changes the emphasis of our next few hours - but not our next few months The crew are disappointed, a little frustrated - as we have sailed in the same conditions before and had no sign of any issues. But there is still humour on board. It's important too, time to get on with things once again - albeit with a slightly shifted objective of getting us back out on the track... so - here's to being out here at Ushant again - asap!

Ellen and the crew of KINGFISHER2
20 miles North East of Ushant, nw France.