Romany

yes. yes it did. And its still crap. Get used to it we must. I watched Alex Thompson footage earlier - he appeared to have 2 pokey out things - 1 each side. Is that old footage or has he quietly repaired his foil?

Damn, the unofficial tracker is by far superior. Even the Alex Thompson racing one is pretty poor by comparison Mr V Globe - if you're reading, your tracker is merde. Turn the good one back on.

Triumph and tragedy (for the boat I guess) in the one act... Thankfully he will tell this tale to his kids. Meanwhile .... back at the front Le Cleac'h seems to be creeping away, and what game is Josse playing?

AC does not hold any interest by comparison either. It seems to me that the advances in technology thru Vendee and similar ocean races are a hell of a lot more transferrable to my boat (I wish I could get it over 10 knots eh ). These sailors are all legends - even those who withdraw have 'made it' IMHO

I know getting upset never helps, but these guys are amazing. "That's going to be complicated' he says when talking about abandoning ship at 44S.. I'd be feeling pretty sick about things I think. Good luck and hopefully there may still be a French frigate not too far away.

Just goes to show a bad day on the boat is better than a good one off it, but man - with an attitude like that he deserves some serious admiration. His sponsors must be pleased with their choice!

I remember that happening too Clipper - I think they did a TV programme on it. As I recall he made a raft out of empty jerry cans so he could go ashore (cant recall why he needed to but anyway) , had to work out a way of producing enough heat to keep the resin on the go - I seem to recall light bulbs were the solution, it was pretty amazing. Better than reality TV by a long shot. Mind you so is sleeping.

My vote for Gordon too. He is not afraid of the tiny wee jobs also. Machined a donut anode especially for the back end of a Townson and also delivered on time when he said and was very reasonably priced.

to be sure he is sailing defensively but it seems that maybe Cleach is playing cat and mouse too. would have thought that a boat with no issues would be streaking away. . There seems little speed difference If Hugo is as uncomfortable as it looks surely its a matter of time before Thompson screws up just thru sheer tiredness. Staggering to be this close after these miles

whose weather routing tells the right story I guess? Hugo going south chasing a shift? pretty amazing to be this close after all these miles. We're problem gonna have another of our favorite sons stolen by a bigger country - Monsieur Coleman seems to be on the improve too. He has to be a pretty happy boy doesn't he, and good on him.

Forrest Gump lives.

Thanks John for that diagram. I have often had a cursory glance at the mast under sail although admittedly not on Sunday, and have noticed a slight deflection to leeward above the spreaders. Maybe a couple of inches maximum - I figured that's probably normal but maybe not.. Romany was built to go offshore and did do the Fiji return at least once. I spoke to the original owner - pretty sure his name was Jim Kingston - was an accountant from Titirangi. He was full of compliments for Mr Townson, reckoned he found Des at Half moon Bay one time looking Romany up and down, scratching h

Thanks John B - despite the blowy end to the weekend, it was nice to be on the water, sailed up Saturday which was really nice, enough wind to get a lean on not enough to frighten the wife, which seems to be a key consideration these days. Sunday morning coming back was not so good for her indoors. Handed helm back with the understated assertion - "I don't like this". The pumping of the mast as Wheels described it does not occur under sail, only at rest. I don't believe lowers are slack but again I guess that's something I will find out - how tight is tight. Romany and Nevenka were built

anybody know what a loos guage costs? All of you have described bits of what I have. Solution seems simple enough and so should be sorted shortly. Thanks for your input

Ok thanks all. IT - thanks for the offer, I am in Weiti, but I will get a rigger involved. Will investigate buying a guage, but the right tools are partly what you pay the experts for I guess, and in the hands of the in-trained could easily be less than helpful. I also spoke to a mate who has the same boat (built immediately after by the same boat builder) and he blames a combination of things, although his immediate reaction was to get somebody who knows the beast - an rigger with Townson experience, so that's what I will do.

Thanks for all replies - I'll try Phil he is closest. No inner forestay, but mast has a position where I believe one may have been/could go (although we have no foredeck 'chain plate'), have fore and aft lowers but I'm not sure how tight 'tight enough' is, so I guess it's a simple process to tighten and see what happens. Back stay is wound on pretty tight already. Is there a tool of some kind that you can use to get the same tension or is it just feel and a good eye? Is it possible to over tighten?

That's supposed to a B not smiling wryly

Anybody got a rigger they'd recommend in Auckland? Problem I have is a 1975 masthead sloop rig, single spreader, power pole type mast, shakes like a bastard when no sails hoisted which is a) bloody annoying at night when its windy (like Saturday night in Bon Accord or Sunday when anchored while waiting for depth at river mouth not good for the boat at anytime IMO. I have consulted and been told that I should not worry... but I do because it just doesn't seem right.

almost match racing at the pointy end of the fleet now.

that tracker is awesome - the next 24 hours should be interesting.

Alcatraz was like that. Aircraft carrier sized decks by courtesy of the 'wings'. sh*t hot going downhill but upwind when they caught it was like throwing buckets overboard.

DSS ?

Is there a requirement for all boats to stay above predicted ice line or are they free to run the gauntlet? Does anybody know if that line been revised and if so - what do they do if Hugo is already the wrong side of the revised position? It would be bloody unfair to see him penalised Will be interesting to see what happens when (if) Hugo Boss can get to a starboard tack although speed doesn't seem to have been compromised too much by the loss of the foil.

welcome Gert. Logically if you can deal with halyards etc without leaving cockpit its easier, and safer, but loads of boats have the same set up that you have described and it doesn't make it impossible by any means. I reckon single handing make you better because you have to anticipate/plan and do things before they are demanded . You got to allow more sea room to do things, you have to devise cunning little strategies. It always amazes me how much time simple things take - when fully crewed these things are done just like that, but no so simple when single handed. You'll have a b

anybody know what the red dotted line on the tracker page is? Southern course limit or is it the expected ice limit? Impressive seeing Hugo Boss going so well - amazingly - despite having the damage. He must feel the bunny in a rabbit and dog race. Go the bunny, teach those onion & garlic chewin' Frenchies a lesson.