Absender: "Aroundalone"
Datum: 04. Jan 2003 00:31
DISASTER FOR EMMA
There are a few things that can ruin your day if you are a solo sailor participating in the Around Alone race. Falling overboard or losing your mast are two of the worst, but losing your indexsail, your key sail, ranks up there. For Emma Richards on Pindar one of her worst nightmares just happened. "We were in a 40kt squall when a wind shift came through," she wrote. "Pindar took off on an almighty surf that lasted forever. I was on deck watching, waiting to take the reef back in, and at the end of the surf, the pilot simply didn't bring the boat back on course as is habit. The boom swung across, not really a 'crash gybe', but the almost instantaneous gybe back to normal course came with a huge tearing sound."
She looked aloft just in time to see her indexsail split from luff to leech (across the sail). "My indexsail is basically in two bits, except for the leech cord (the rope on the outer edge) and there is some material holding it together right on the luff (inside edge of the sail next to the mast) just below the third reef patch," she reported. Thus began one of the biggest challenges facing the young Scottish sailor. None of the Around Alone boats carry a sewing machine, and anyway it would be impossible to repair the sail on board with a machine. Instead Emma will have to revert to the old fashioned way of repairing sails; by hand, with a needle and thread, and thatÂ’s just what she has set about doing. Her log continues. "I am into about my 8th hour of repair, lining up, sticking, sewing, undoing, redoing - but I'm afraid its going to be a long job sitting on the boom resembling a bucking bronco with an attitude. I just hope I can get it finished in a few days when the wind dies! I suddenly wish I had been a sailmaker in my previous life!!"
With the sail in two halves Emma will have to line up each half and sew them back together again. This is a LOT easier than it sounds. The indexsail weight around 400lbs and is unwieldy at best. When itÂ’s wet, which it likely is, it weights more and will be more difficult to work with. Emma will have to stitch inch-by-inch covering the rip with fabric from her sail repair kit. She will have to do numerous rows of stitches to ensure that the repair is strong enough. And she is doing all this while sitting on the boom which is bucking around like mechanical bull at a Texas road stop.
Emma is nothing if not resourceful and determined. It’s her intention to repair the sail and get back into the race. A repair like this on a sail loft floor with skilled people and all the necessary machinery could take upwards of two days. Emma has as much time as she needs to get the job done – she is determined to finish the leg and to do so she need her indexsail. It’s not going to be easy as her log suggests. "I must also stop trying to sew up my own fingers too while I'm working, they resemble pin cushions already. It’s too clumsy to wear gloves so every hour or so of thawing out time down below making tea, or charging batteries etc is quite a painful experience!"
This most recent problem has fixed EmmaÂ’s resolve more than ever. She expected to have problems during the race, and now she has a large one on her hands. Instead of intimidating her, she is tackling it with renewed energy. The end of her log speaks to this resolve. "Now I've had a few hours to think about my situation I'm feeling a bit better it. It is just a yacht race after all and I am safe and sound! I also began this race in September with the aim just to finish the race, to circumnavigate the globe solo, and after the fourth place in the first leg, I thought, maybe a podium finish in ONE leg is feasible. After the second leg and a podium finish, AND podium in overall standings, I thought thatÂ’s how I should be able to finish this race! Well, today has been a big reminder of my first aim which I haven't achieved yet!"
As usual she signed her email with a kiss (to all the followers of the Around Alone) and went back to work. Hang in there Em, we are thinking about you.
--- Brian Hancock great.circle@verizon.net
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