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            After another energizing breakfast we headed towards the harbor to queue for the crane. We received number 16 which would take another 2,5 hours of waiting. Time which you can spend well tuning up the mast, reconnecting the electrical cables, take all prohibited stuff out of the boat prior to weighing…

Eventually it was our turn, and surprise: the boat weighed only 1456 kg, way below the minimum of 1495 kg. We immediately asked where we could find extra weight to put in the boat, because we must represent for weighing before being eligible to start. Crew weighing fortunately was a formality, the four of us reaching only 298 kg despite full clothing and full pockets. In contrast to many other teams we went to the bathroom after the weighing.

In the afternoon we scrubbed the deck and continued tuning up the mast. It takes time and patience to eliminate all lateral bends and to have the shroud tension perfectly right.

In the evening we got confirmation that a local blacksmith will make the necessary weights in iron, which we will have to fix on the places defined by the class rules. We finally left the dock for our maiden sail in the Baltic waters. Very light conditions (6 knots) and partly cloudy skies. Great to feel how everything was running smoothly. We finished with a delicious spaghetti “à la Alexis&Joris” and a drink with Jack’s crew.