The start is getting closer …

As I write it is Wednesday, 21 September 2011. The start is now just four days away. The boat is getting close to being ready, with just a few last-minute jobs remaining.

I did all my safety checks at the very first opportunity – last Thursday – and passed them all without a problem. I did have to repaint the boat numbers on the deck yesterday, but I found someone else who was doing the same thing and we shared paint and masking tape, so that made things a little quicker.

Chris Tutmark, who did the Mini Transat in 2009 and who I know from my days sailing in Vancouver and Seattle, has come out for the start. He is a professional rigger and has been very helpful the last couple of days working on the boat – splicing and doing whippings and odd jobs. He has really helped me get through the jobs list a lot quicker.

There are still some jobs ahead – final shopping, replacing some bungee around the boat, stowing my gear, food and water, checking the rig – but it looks a lot less intimidating than it did on Sunday.

I also have to do a lot of navigation work – inputting waypoints on the GPS so I don’t hit the rocks while I’m approaching Madeira, for example! – but I should have time to do that over the next couple of days.

Still, I think this may be my last opportunity to update the blog before I go, so I’ll provide the link to the race website. Our trackers have not been installed so I can’t provide a direct link to the tracking page, but if you go to the race website you should be able to find it.

http://www.charentemaritime-bahia.transat650.net/en/

My next update may be from Madeira!

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