Kiwi Spirit Sails ahead of Hurricane Arthur

We had an uneventful four and half day sail from St. Augustine, Florida to Newport, Rhode Island. There we met with North Sails, Harken and others to help plan repairs, upgrades and alterations to Kiwi. That accomplished, and with an eye of hurricane Arthur moving toward us, we made a fast trip to the Lyman Morse yards in Thomaston, Maine. There the boat was soundly secured for the approaching winds, which she weathered well. Now the work begins.

The sails will all be removed and inspected. I fully expect to acquire a new mainsail as it already has 26,000 miles on it in just the year and half since launching, and that's more than most boats will do in their lifetime. Should a head sail fail, I have five others but only one mainsail. No risks to be take here. Two spinnaker poles are being added, which will enable easier handling for downwind sailing on genoa and staysail. Adjustable genoa cars, two more winches, more snatch blocks and viewing windows to see if the rudders or keel get fouled with weed or nets are all being added. Most of the work will be accomplished in a month with a few loose ends after that. But once the electronics are sorted out (many failures here), and sails are returned, we will head south to St. Augustine for solo circumnavigation departure on November 8th or soon after - weather dependent.

The date of departure for the solo circumnavigation will this time be according to a ten day weather projection. Last time for family, friends and spectators, the departure was as close to the advertised date as possible. But that left me arriving in Bermuda with little wind. Five days after rounding Bermuda, I was already two days behind the record pace set by Dodge Morgan on American Promise. This time I shall wait for a favorable “weather window."

But for today, I am off to the "Y" for an hour’s swim, as at the end of next month I, and five others over the age of seventy, will swim the English Channel in a relay.