The issues seem to be resolved aboard TSE-4myplanet. Nearly a week after the “almost” dismasting of her boat, the Maralpine is gradually regaining confidence.
This crossing of Australia is so long. Endless, Alexia Barrier must have thought, as she monitored her stubborn mast alone. But now, having completed all technical checks, confidence seems to be returning slowly but surely. “I spent the day under a large gennaker, in fairly mild wind and sea conditions, and my mast behaved well. A very good first day for 2021,” shared the Azuréenne.
Let’s hope it lasts, but Alexia had to bring out her toolbox to ensure her safety on her “Penguin” as she calls her monohull: “Following the breakage of the backstay, I spent a lot of time looking for ways to see what was happening in the mast without having to climb it, because there are still big waves. So I built a ‘mast traveler’ that allowed me to attach a camera along the mast to examine it. There’s no apparent damage, so I set the large gennaker again. I love 2021 so far, I have 15 knots of wind, and it feels great! I know a big storm is forecasted ahead of me in a week, so I’m enjoying this relative calm. It’s quite nice. I need to regain trust in my mast, in the repair, so having set the large gennaker again in this weather is great, it allows me to observe my handiwork.”
Having regained confidence, she will need to rethink her strategy to face this approaching storm. While the competitors ahead of her have chosen to continue along the exclusion zone, Alexia Barrier seems to be leaning towards a more northern course, but nothing is set in stone yet, and the evolving weather conditions will allow her to finalize her decision early next week. Just in time to once and for all ensure the solidity of her mast.
