Start of a new season

January 30, 2010

WINSOME is momentarily in the shed, safely protected from the elements. In the meantime work is done on her to get her back into race mode for upcoming season. One of the changes being made is that as of this season we will be sailing with new navigation hard-, and software. In January we went to Cornelis Jongkind in Medemblik to have a Deckman presentation. It is a wonderful program giving us a lot more precise information over the racecourse, however, it is a fulltime job to be able to work with it. All TP52’s, Volvo Ocean Teams, America’s Cuppers and Vendé Globe sailors use it, at least we will be in good company. Now let’s hope we get enough time in front of the fireplace this winter to read the manuals and, come spring, enough time on the water to try it out before the first races. Paintwork has started on WINSOME, not only on the exterior but also on the interior. The sheets, halyards and rigging are looked at and some replaced, sails are intensively nourished by the sailmakers of UK & De Vries, necessary repairs are being made and all safety measures checked.

This brings us to upcoming season, what is WINSOME going to do in 2010? We will discuss the season in the next update. I can tell you this much, it might bring us an endurance race in the summer and an extraordinary event in the fall!

Joost