Final preparations

Just back from a very busy trip to Driac in gorgeous but incredibly hot weather.

I have done pretty well everything I had planned but an very glad I didn't have the steel re-inforcing frames to fit as I would not have squeezed it in, those will have to be done in Barmouth immediately before the race.

Antifouling went well but I did need to do all of her; I have redone her black band at the waterline in 'hard racing antifouling', the rest is red. She was not too badly fouled with just thin slimy weed and a very few barnacles low down.

I have removed a lot of junk from inside so stowage should be easier than last year and I had the stove looked at by a diesel chap so I hope that will be working better (hotter and more responsive).

The self steering gear is fully refurbished and set up though I was not able to test it under fire; we will see how it works on the way to Barmouth. I'm optimistic as it all seems to move freely and the set-up looks good.

I discovered late in the day that a pressure washer cleans up teak ready for varnish amazingly quickly (though can't be done too often as it also erodes it). I'd like to try and do the toe rail and cover board (the edge deck plank) before the race if possible as it will make a huge difference to her appearance; we'll see if there is time before I leave on 15th.

There is just a little food aboard, some coffee, tea, ketchup, a few tins of tuna, beans etc and some pot noodles. Best assume nothing and supply in full; especially whisky....

Well no-one has blogged for quite a while so here is the latest from me.

I'm off to Driac this Friday for the last time before the race; I'll be drying her out between tides and refreshing the antifouling. This has lasted pretty well (I used Jotun which is an industrial one) so it should be just a broad band around the waterline I hope. I hope to have some reinforcing plates from Stefan by then to fit to damaged frames, shelves and retaining material for lockers and leecloths for the foc's'l bunks. I also hope to complete the refurbishment of the self steering gear; I've obtained, repaired or made the missing components and spoken to the makers so I hope it can be got to work OK. There are endless other small jobs of course and I'll do as many as I can.

Training has been held up by a serious cough which stopped me for two weeks but Nick and I had two runs together in Scotland during the Odyssey course we ran last week and those went well with lots of climbing. Yesterday I decided to do a longish cycle/run session. I cycled for 55 minutes, covering 9 miles and climbing 1,050 ft then set off on foot expecting to run for 2 hours. 4 hours and 10 minutes later I tottered in having run 17 miles and climbed 2,800 ft. This was not a record-breaking time by any means but I feel the cycling really helps the running and I was pleased to be able to keep plugging away for 5 hours and do that amount of climbing without getting cramp, stopping, crawling, crying or being crippled the next day.

I have a busy few weeks before the race but I'll try to keep doing a mixture of cycling and running of different distances with one or two long ones included.