It has not been an easy decision for the team to make but after a difficult period where the team faced setbacks and delays the time ran out for key sponsors to be a part of this edition of the race.  Rather than continue with a serious funding deficit, the team have decided to rethink the campaign and work up a three year program to include events such as the Solidaire du Chocolat, Twostar and Les Sable - Horta races with the ultimate aim being to make a serious mark in the Global Ocean Race 2013-14.

Naturally everyone involved is disappointed.  The project so far has seen the team battle back from the failure of the inversion test and complete many optimizations to the their boat 40 Degrees.  After putting so much heart and soul into the the project and the boat itself, the girls are determined not to let this change of tack dampen their spirits and both are working hard towards the new campaign sailing on 40 Degrees.

The team would like to extend a huge thanks to all who have been involved with the project so far from suppliers to those who have given their time, advice and financial support.  Hannah & Anna sincerely hope to remain working with current suppliers and continue the relationship over the coming years as the new campaign develops.

The new look campaign is in development and will be announced as soon as plans are firmed up but rest assured the girls will be back out on the water soon, so stay tuned!

Hannah & Anna would like to wish all the competitors and the race organizers of the GOR 2011-12 the very best of luck and hope that the race is the huge success it deserves to be.

 

I am not going to lie, its fairly unpleasant being forced upside down in a boat.  Its even more unpleasant when you have to do it twice in one day with no result so the idea of having to do it a third time was not at all amusing.  After calculations were re run it was discovered that a software glitch had given out the wrong information with regard to how much water it would take to right the boat.  To build in the necessary permanent tanks was not an option, firstly a time issue and secondly the rather stretched budget was just about to take enough of a hammering to get us through another test - these things don't come cheap.  We talked, contemplated, thought about crying, got grumpy, laughed hysterically, discussed pulling from the race and decided to think outside of the box.

If we couldn't build tanks than what could we do to get an extra tonne of water on the side of the boat? The answer - flexi tanks!  But of course it is not just simply a case of buy enough tanks and voila.  With six of these bladders holding 200 litres each we had to make sure they would stay in place not just to stop the boat getting damaged but quite frankly we didn't really fancy getting squashed.

We worked our backsides off last week to get the boat prepared whilst the other GOR teams around Haslar prepared for departure to Mallorca.  By Friday morning we were as ready as we could be but felt physically sick.  Not so much at the thought of rolling over or even another failure but having had a serious ingress of water through the main hatch last time we couldn't face that sound of rushing water inside the boat again.  

She rolled over and thumped the water, we waited, listened and then Anna moved aft checking each former leaking culprit.  Thumbs up, all clear, minor drips but nothing to worry about.  We started to pump.  Anna filling the normal ballast tanks and me up the front working the new flexi tanks.  We could feel her lean with every pump.  Voices on the VHF told us that we were looking good and this time they sounded genuine rather than the strained mumblings of the last test.

With the aft tanks full and the flexi tanks almost full we rolled over and completed the mandatory 180 test.  We now have the small task of fitting two weeks of prep time into just one but we will do it.  We could so easily have given up.  The stress of tight finances and unexpected issues has not been a pleasant experience but that is what makes this team such an amazing thing to be a part of.

A huge thanks to everyone who has helped us get through this.  We will make you proud....

Its been a stressful few days at Team H&A headquarters but a plan is forming.  A great deal of work goes into running an around the world yacht race particularly when the unexpected happens but that is when you discover those around you who are true stars and we are very lucky to be surrounded by such people.  Within a few days we should be back on track and whilst work continues on the boat, the girls along with preparateur Katrina Ham have been taking the opportunity to taste some food samples.

This morning the office was full of everything from pasturised foods to isotonic drinks to freeze dried Japanese vegetables all courtesy of the lovely Di at Round The World Foods.  Nutritional planning is key and it is important that the girls eat well and enjoy their food.  Luckily Hannah & Anna's tastes are not too different although Anna remains firmly unconvinced by Marmite and Hannah made a beeline for the sink after trying to swallow the chocolate pudding (textural issues not the chocolate part of course).

As momentum builds to the race start the team will be posting frequent blogs keeping you right up to date with progress.  So its fingers crossed for a run of good luck.  

A big thanks to Pip Hare, Brian Thompson and all of the Class 40 sailors for letting the girls join in on the great sailing day hosted by The Base.  These sessions are so useful and a great opportunity to discuss ideas with some top sailing talent.  Lets hope that The Base becomes established as 'the' centre in the UK for short handed sailors.