After wrapping up at LMI, Ben and crew moved Dorade to the docks at IYRS. After speaking with the crew everyone is in high spirits and is happy with the state of Dorade. The crew have arrived in Newport along with Matt Brooks and Pam Levy. The positive energy coming from uniting Dorade with these specific sailors really shows itself in this lead up to the TransAtlantic. Spirits are high here at IYRS on Dorade.
After arriving, Dorade’s crew have been finishing up the last items on the list this week. We have run the remaining halyards and lines with new rigging from RigPro. We lashed on the life lines and stitched up the last bits of leather. SevenStar Marine Engineering have completed the metal work on the spectacles for the main mast and the pulpit. After investigation from Ben, he sent them to Teak at SevenStar to be fix a compromise in the bronze. After beautiful work by Teak we have these items back installed onto Dorade. We also had a 3rd reef plate installed on the main boom. After much consideration it was decided that on a race like this it was necessary to have a third reef point for the main sail. This entails two pad eye plates to be installed onto the boom. After arriving at IYRS we took the boom off and brought it to the Coronet shed and Eric Thesan did the installation for us. After swift and precise work by Eric, we had the boom back installed and rigged within 24 hours.
We will be loading the provisions for the trip onto Dorade this week. We will have a mix of fresh and freeze dried food. It is very important to have organization with the provisions so we will have individual bags made up for each meal and each day. The TransAtlantic race will be a long trip for Dorade so careful planning and preparation is required for the provisions on a race like this.
We have all our sails for the race loaded into the boat. The main sail and mizzen sail have both been bent on along with the new canvas sail covers, made by Phil Kinder. All gear for the race has been loaded onto Dorade. Organization is key on a boat the size of Dorade, as it can get very tight down below when Dorade is fully loaded for a TransAtlantic race and carrying seven sailors.
Dorade and the crew will be staying at IYRS in Newport, RI joining in the preparation and festivities before setting off to sea on the TransAtlantic race. Dorade is in absolute condition as are the crew. We will spend this week together finalizing our preparations, and having our last dinners ashore together Friday at the NYYC and Saturday with just Dorade crew. Dorade and her crew are in sync in their focus and high spirits.
~ Nick