Paul Larsen in Vestas SailRocket 2. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images.
by Paul Larsen
So, I sit here writing this with the laptop living up to its name. Over my toes the African sun sets over "speed-spot". There is no wind and it's deathly quiet. In the depths of the silence you can here the distant surf on a shore you can barely see. The bird-life in this place is amazing. Huge flocks wheel in the distance, Pelicans settle for the night on a spit that will soon be submerged... but no flamingoes.
One drive down the main street and it feels like we never left. A hard 16 months of boat building just seems to disappear. It's actually quite surreal to be back. We have so many emotion charged memories attached to this place.
Things have changed though. I don't feel in awe of that amazing mile sitting opposite me now despite the beatings it has handed out. As a project, we have matured a great deal whilst speed-spot reamins the same as the day we first arrived. We understand it now. I feel we have its measure. I respect it and am ready for a real battle... it's hard to descibe... I guess I just believe in the outcome.
The Ship carrying VESTAS Sailrocket 2 was due to arrive tomorrow. I found out today that it will in fact be a week late. Apparently it has some "rain sensitive cargo" onboard and had to park up off Portugal for some time to wait for suitable weather! It's annoying because they didn't inform us or our shipping agents. Well, there is nothing we can do about it. Helena and I are here to sort out cars, houses, internet etc for when everything and everyone else arrives.
We are constantly looking for a deal to make this whole thing affordable. These are funny times in the big picture of the global economy. No-one is immune. You can clearly see the effects down here. Inflation is coming and if you don't pay real attention then things blow-out quite quickly. We have to remain 'goal orientated'. What do we really need to get this job done. It's not a holiday we are after but a world record.
I like coming back here. The whole place is our arena. This is where our dreams will be realised. It sits and waits patiently for when we ourselves are ready to succeed.
I feel calm.
A new boat custom built for this beach is coming this way at a steady 16.3 knots. It was somewhere off Senegal this morning. It will arrive and we will apply all that we have learnt to try and make it realise its potential. What happens between now and then is all part of an unfolding story that we are happy to openly share right here.
We have brought a few more tools with us to try and bring you all closer to the action.
The boat is due in on the 13-14th.
Vestas SailRocket
