I know we have been slow on the news lately but we are working on the “behind the scenes” stuff. In the works are a new website and equipment so that we can update the blog during Transpac.
We should be able to get daily updates on the site and the occasional photo up while we are racing.
On the boat front, Pirate has been real busy keeping the work progressing on the Bella Mente in San Diego. The construction of the new rig is coming along nicely. In a few more weeks we will be able to start getting our hands on it for some assembly and getting familiar with it.
When going offshore it is good to have different people familiar and comfortable with different systems on the boat. So Pirate and I will know the rig inside and out as well as all the rigging on the boat. John Von has the winch systems down. Thomas, is our composites and general fix it man. The list goes on like this. This allows us to maintain and repair items as we race.
The new boat is also coming along. The decisions are finally coming to a close and the first signs of construction are visible.
Stay tuned,
Doogie

The team has been keeping heads down in an effort to get the boat ready for transpac. Lots of effort is being put into the new mast being built for TP. The worklist is daunting but things are coming together. The boat is sitting at Driscoll’s, off the keel, while it is getting worked on. As if this wasn’t enough we are also sorting out deck layouts for the new boat. So we almost need 2 different mind sets.

https://bellamenteracing.com/bellamente/232/

The team is back to work on the Bella Mente getting her back to racing shape.
The list of mods before Transpac is a large one, not counting the new rig being built for the boat. Brad Fitzgerald is doing a good amount of boat building for us while we try and focus on the new rig and improving the systems. I can’t go into full detail yet of our upgrades since there is still time for the competition to respond. We have also been doing a little experimenting.
There had been a bit of a debate about the best way to build soft pad eyes. So to solve the argument, all those with opinions built their version. We had 6 entries: AC boat captain (Mickey), Thomas, French 2 (Francois), JV, and Nipper with 2 entries.
We hooked the truck up, load cell, and a dead end point, and pulled.
The most disappointing result broke at 110 pounds. Our winner was Francois at just over 1000 pounds! Nice work.

A nice picture of Matt, Hap, and John Von.

https://bellamenteracing.com/bellamente/227/

We’ve now had a few days to decompress and reassess. The good news is that we will be sailing in the Transpac. We have started the process of building a new rig. The Team is full go and Hap is exicted to take on this new challenge. We are working hard on the delivery date so that it is adequate and we can be ready for Transpac and not be completely burned out by the time the start rolls along.
The work list is large and daunting but we feel confident that we will be able to have the boat ready for Transpac. Although we did not get to sail as much as we had planned to, we still got a good feel for what needs to be done to the boat. Our bunk system needs to be improved, our stacking system is not bad but also needs some polishing, more weight needs to get pulled from the boat…
We will announce in a few days who will be building our new mast and when we plan on sailing again.
Thanks for everyone’s well wishes and help.
Doogie

The jury rig set up on our way to Ensenada.

https://bellamenteracing.com/bellamente/220/

Just a quick overview. We were sailing well and the race was going according to plan. Ian Moore was happy with our positioning and the team was working well. Most of the systems were working well and we have some good ideas as to how to refine them.
Sometime yesterday afternoon, we were sailing upwind, on port tack in about 18-20 knots of wind. Conditions were lumpy but we had seen some rougher seas earlier. We came off one wave too many and the mast came crashing down. I looked up just as it collapsed. All our hearts sank when that happened. We did a quick check to make sure everyone was ok and then set forward to start assessing and cleaning the mess. The rig fell to leeward and broke in several pieces on the way down. It all quickly went between the keel and rudder and was banging on the hull. We made the decision to cut the mast away and limit damage to the boat. John Von grabbed the grinder and made quick work of all the rigging. Last to go was the headstay, and it then all sank pretty quickly. We set about setting up a jury rig to help us get to Ensenada where we picked up more fuel and continued onto Mission Bay.
So now we will sit down and make a decision as to the next step to be able to sail Transpac. The next couple of days will be key for us into getting onto the right path.
Many people are asking us what broke. It is very difficult to tell. It broke
Stay tuned for more!
Doogie

https://bellamenteracing.com/bellamente/215/

The mast came down coming off a wave. We are all ok but a bummed.