Today's Report
Rain has delayed several external items, though further progress on mast fabrication was reported. Final preparations being made for the mast step, which will be welded into place byy Whiting Power. A naval architect was arranged to plan the step which will consist of several steel I-beams that will take the heavy weight of the mast (and rigging).

Added Comments
Japanese sailor Kenichi Horie has been making his way from Hawaii to Osaka in his catamaran outfitted with a "wave drive."

Horie-san is now 1,700 nm from Osaka averaging 2.0 kt though more recently has been making just 1.0 - 1.6 kt. So far he's voyaged 2,025 nm in a bit over 6 weeks.

At an average 1.4 kt pace he's looking at 50 more days. He says nothing much about the wave drive system in his daily reports, especially recently, other than to occasionally assert he is making "smooth progress."

He has been complaining lately about the heat (36 C) and today mentioned a "thumb wound," his first injury of the trip he said, because he has not needed to handle sails.

Further concern he and the Suntory Mermaid shore crew must have is whether the wave drive will fail or gradually lose effectiveness from build-up of shellfish, barnacles and other bottom growth. When Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III got to NZ there was a heavy layer of thumb-sized mussels coating the entire hull. The bottom had been well cleaned before he left, though not recently painted with anti-fouling. That extensive growth only took 57 days.

It will be a question whether the mechanical action on Horie's boat will keep growth off or make it even worse by washing off the anti-fouling protection and thus potentially jamming the "wave drive" well short of Japan. That could be why he has been slowing down in recent days. At the close tolerances this experimental system must have, just the drag effect alone of bottom growth must be considerable.

Depending on when Saito-san can depart Auckland, there is at least some chance their arrivals in Japan may be within the same period -- about the last week of June.

Today's Report
After a full month in Auckland, this report summarizes the refit work so far.

Everything is proceeding apace, apart from various delays from rain and waits for ordered equipment though all has been as good or better than might be expected. We have 4 different companies working for us and Saito-san is very pleased with the refit so far.

1. Yachtspars New Zealand -- Mast and standing rigging, running rigging, mast equipment installation
2. Whiting Power New Zealand -- new engine and drive train, genset extensive maintenance, new engine cooling system, fabrication of mast step box (to keel), engine room rewiring
3. Quantum Sails New Zealand -- main, stay, genoa, and storm sail
4. id.sign -- sponsor names logos/boat name

We received assurances today that another week should see the mast in, rigging completed, sails done, and all engine work and rewiring finished. Sea trials will then take place, figuring a day or two if there are no major surprises.

Saito hopes to leave Auckland on May 8 or 9, with Japan ETA 39 days later, averaging 120 nm a day.

After further discussions with Whiting, it seems that a May 12-14 departure is more likely.

Added Comments
Saito-san was interviewed this week by Boating New Zealand, with the article scheduled for the June issue.

He also attended a party of the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron on Tuesday.