Vendée Globe city – Les Sables d’Olonne – Nándor Fa is working on his new mast in Port Olona (fresh audio in English with Nándor Fa)

Audio with Nándor Fa written version: Nándor Fa talks about preparations and the assembly of the new mast in Les Sables d’Olonne before the NY – Vendée single-handed transatlantic race.

N.F.: “Since my mast arrived to Les Sables d’Olonne, I’m working on it. At the beginning we had to measure what do I have, and after that to make the re-design, to order all the standing rig, running rig, sails, the electronics, all that stuff. Now I started to work on modifying the mast. I cut what I had to cut, and I sent off all the fittings – carbon fiber composite fittings -, which are unnecessary and just made the mast heavier than my limit.

At last, it seems to be very good in terms of weight and the centre of gravity is also perfect. Some of the fittings – attachment points, spreader points – are the old ones and they are in a good place, some of them I’ll have to renew, build new ones.

I’m really lucky that I can work in Les Sables d’Olonne, thanks to the City Council and to the Port Olona. They made a perfect opportunity for me and for other skippers, to work there and prepare for races, not only for the Vendée Globe, but for races before and after that. This town is very much dedicated for the Imoca sailors and I’m very happy to be there.

In the meantime at home, I organize all the segments I have to organize and hopefully in a couple of weeks everything will be together and I can put the mast in the boat and will be ready for sailing.”

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