KINGFISHER2 IN PLYMOUTH MAST TRACK UNDER REPAIR...
Datum: 29. Jan 2003 10:29
After a difficult and testing process of anchoring KINGFISHER2 in Plymouth Sound late last night, Ellen MacArthur and her crew finally managed to secure the
giant catamaran at anchor thanks to the help of local support boats from Plymouth Harbour.
KINGFISHER2's support team had travelled from Lorient (NW France) to Plymouth during yesterday and were on hand as soon as they arrived at Plymouth Sound at
1930GMT. headed up by Technical Director, Neil Graham, they boarded KINGFISHER2 with fresh supplies and were able to immediately start work on the damanged
mast track. The guys have been working through the night in fairly rough conditions in the Sound brought by the strong north west winds but have this
morning confirmed that two sections of the mast track at the 2nd and 3rd reef points have been removed. The headboard car had been damaged and this in turn
was causing it to malfunction and damage the mast track.
The replacement mast track, provided by Tracy Edwards from Maiden II, that arrived in Plymouth last night has been prepared at the Hercules machine room and
is now back on KINGFISHER2. Ellen MacArthur is optimistic that KINGFISHER2 may be able to leave for the start line inside 36 hours: "We now have the bits of
the mast track we need, the guys are going to work till its done although the conditions are difficult," said MacArthur. "We are keen to get back out there
as soon as possible - the wind is in the north for the next 48 hours and that's what we want, although the sea state in the channel is rougher than we would
like."
The team are currently moving KINGFISHER2 to a new anchor position to begin the work and KINGFISHER2's departure time from Plymouth will be relayed as soon
as this is confirmed by MacArthur and the team.
Kingfisher plc is one of Europe's leading retailers operating in the
international home improvement and electrical and furniture markets.
Kingfisher employs around 90,000 people in over 1,397 stores across 16
countries and includes some of the best known retail brands in Europe: B&Q
and Comet in the UK and Castorama, Darty and BUT in France.
http://www.diy.com
http://www.comet.co.uk
http://www.kingfisher.com
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