DONGFENG IS IN ITAJAI

DONGFENG IS IN THE HOUSE

After a magnificent effort by the Dongfeng team they are finally in Itajai and in the process of getting the yacht sea worthy once more. The loss of their mast was just one of the tragedies that befell the Volvo Ocean Race Racing teams. The first major tragedy was Vestas Wind running aground, the second was team SCA tearing a sail and losing all their electronics and had to resort to blind sailing and dead reckoning and the third was Dongfeng losing their mast. But that is all part of sailing and what makes the Volvo Ocean Race so much fun.

The rush is on and there are only 6 days to the start of  leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race - Itajai Brazil to Newport USA.  As can be seen in the images below, many hands make light work and the rush is on the get Dongfeng ready for the start of the race, perhaps even in time for the In-Port Race, but it appears that time is not on the Dongfeng teams side. All we can do is hope. It would be a major tragedy if Dongfeng could not partake in the next leg or even start a day or two late.

Dongfeng has  finally arrived.

Dongfeng is in the bay in Itajai

Getting Dongfeng ready to be rigged

The mast was released from customs at San Paulo Airport and speeding towards Itajai

A few hundred meters from the dock

Untying the mast from the trailer truck

Two Hysters bringing the mast closer

The rush to get the mast to the boat

This is what the damage that the old mast suffered

Dongfeng without its mast swinging from a sling

Dongfeng lowered into the cradle.

Dongfeng is in the cradle read to get a work over

The work over has begun.