It has been under a week since Green Dragon arrived to a heroes welcome in Qingdao. The Dragon, which suffered structural damage during leg 4, was immediately handed over to the shore team who were eager to start the job list.
From the moment the boat hit the dock the shore team have been working around the clock - sometimes up to 20 hours a day - in order to repair Green Dragon and have her in the water for the in port race tomorrow.
Skipper Ian Walker commented this morning: ‘The team has done a fantastic job, it is down to them that we are out on the water today.’
The boat has had a full maintenance check, and the structural damage has been repaired. The team have also replaced the forestay after it was broken during the last leg.
Green Dragon was lifted back into the water this morning, which enabled the crew to go out for a test sail ahead of tomorrow’s in port race.
Joining the crew onboard was Mr Aloysius Hendricks CEO of Berg propulsion, who announced their partnership with Green Dragon at a press conference in Qingdao this morning.
Green Dragon has two additions to their existing crew for the in port race in the form of Green Dragon’s very own technical shore manager Johnny Mourdant and America’s Cup grinder Ian Weighell.
Damian Foxall also returns to his role as watch captain after his break during the previous leg.
Just four boats will race tomorrow, as they face a light airs course and sail against a local current. Conditions are forecasted to be north-easterly, and the crews could see anything from 2 to 10 knots.
With the current favouring one side of the course the start will play an important role, Ian Walker commented earlier today: ‘The start is always the most important thing but I haven’t been out there and sailed in it so I need to go out there today and make some conclusions.’
GREEN DRAGON CREW LIST: IN PORT RACE, QINGDAO.
1 Ian Walker GBR, skipper
2 Ian Moore IRL, navigator
3 Guo Chuan CHN (media crew member)
4 Neal McDonald GBR
5 Damien Foxall/IRL
6 Tom Braidwood AUS
7 Anthony Merrington AUS
8 Phil Harmer AUS
9 Andrew McLean NZL
10 Justin Slattery IRL
11 Freddie Shanks GBR
12 Ian Weighell GBR
13 Johnny Mordaunt IRL
