Cometh the hour

Vestas 11th Hour Racing was returned to the water on Monday in Auckland, with test sailing scheduled later this week.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing is back in the water, with a test sail anticipated later this week. The boat had been shipped to New Zealand for repairs following a collision just before the finish of Leg 4, off Hong Kong.

“It’s been an amazing effort by all involved to get the boat back in the water,” said skipper Charlie Enright. “The coordination between our shore team, The Boatyard, all the suppliers, the stakeholders. A month ago we said we’d be back on the water on this day, and we’ve stuck to the schedule. It’s amazing.

“We still have to haul it out, put it on its keel, put the rig in, put it through its paces… and we’ll be sailing starting on the 7th, which gives us plenty of time ahead of the in-port race and for the Leg start on the 18th. So we’re in good shape.”