Year 3 -14 February 2026 – Another Mast Day - Kochi -India

We had an early breakfast and it was lovely and cool.

I prayed that today would be a good day with our mast works. I cut up some pineapple and we had a good breakfast. Chris came to the boat about 7.45-8.00am and he had some breakfast too.

We started work at about 8.30am and the first thing was what to do with the doughnut. Chris had looked stuff up and spoken to Selden and it seems that you have to shave the doughnut to the shape of the mast. Why this was not part of the written instructions I do not know. We therefore assessed the space and what needed to come off and Peter -using a saw shaved off

another part of the dough nut and we then assembled the assembly with the ball bearing bearings on the top and on the bottom and taped it together. We then got it into the motor hole and then put the foul through the centre which held the bearings together and using the long screw bar we wound the tack assembly into the foil. This screwed in well and we then had to fit the motor back into the mast and ensure that was all was aligned and it would work.

We spent most of the morning fitting everything back into place and then got to the stage when we were ready to test it. We started manually and it seemed to turn quite well. We then tried hydraulically and it seemed to work well with the odd noise. Chris then made some further adjustments to the foil and if it was too tight it did not work as well so he loosened it to a position when it seemed to work well. He then wanted to check the halyard swivel and pulled it right up the mast and then down again. He then went up the mast checking it as he went up and right to the top where he could see some of the top swivel and it looked fine. The foil system seemed to be working fine. It was then time for lunch and a break.

After lunch we decided to put up the mainsail which took some time. This is because we have to get the tails on the top sail on to the halyard swivel which is then hoisted up the mast. There are 5 battens which need to go in as it goes up and we have to put the bottom tails on the foil and attach the clew -back of the sail to the outhaul. There was a little breeze which interfered bit we managed it. We then furled the sail in and out a number of times and to my relief it all seemed to be working well. I and Chris and the guys had worked so hard in hot conditions and we seemed to have succeeded without having to remove the mast. Thank you so much. Hopefully this will now not be a problem. Chris suggested that after 25 thousand miles the rods should be checked again so perhaps I get this done in Cape Town. Chris had done a great job and we had succeeded.

The guys and Chris went off to the pool and I tidied up a bit more. I then joined them and getting into the pool was so refreshing. Chris left at about 5.30pm for the airport where he was going to a hotel until his flight at 400am in the morning.

The rest of us had a few beers and then showered and then had a buffet supper which was equally good. What a day- we had succeeded and Stormbird now has a serviceable main for the rest of year 3 I hope. The gods have been kind. What a relief.

 The picture of the day is Chris up the top of the mast checking everything.

 Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. 

I am looking for crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town (mid June to end of July) and from Cape Town to the Azores and then to the UK (mid August onwards). If of any interest do email me.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com