Warrior - She has a name

Preparations for the boat are going well. Hamble Yacht Services (Roger Marino) are looking after everything. Liferaft and jackets have been sent for a service. The gas system is being pressure tested and the hoses and bottle replaced. There are also a few small tidy up items (catches. latches etc.). They hope to have the furler fitted this weekend and Elvstrom (Jeremy White) has the sails in for service/valet (and change of sail number). The sails will need to be recut once the firler is fitted.

I received my sail number during the week IRL8478 and then it was just a matter of coming up with the name !! - I had a long list but in the end of the day you just have to pick one. No good asking opinions as it simply makes your long list even longer.

So I went with Warrior (it was going to be Celtic Warrior, but I thought I would shorten it to Warrior and add in a Celtic Warrior Tattoo symbol).

I have passed this early draft to Ben in GrapefruitGraphics to see if this can be improved upon, and to make up the lettering for the boom cover, wheel cover, spinnaker pole cover, hull and transom.
So why "Warrior". The boat, from now on affectionatley know as "Warrior", is a member of the team and will of course carry the boat and team name. Warrior is now the second member of the team (myself being the only other member), so we are a bit short handed at the moment. I thought the name fitted with the overall journey we have to take. A successful warrior has to :

- be fighting fit (physically and mentally)
- be properly equipped and prepared for the battle at hand
- be a force to be reckoned with (eventually)
- know when to engage with the competition and when to stay clear
- watch and learn
- train, train, train

Next step it to get Warrior home. Ideally she will be ready next weekend, but I think that may be a bit tight. I am away in London the following weekend (although that would have been ideal as it is a 3 day bank holiday weekend - St Patricks Day) - So the most likely date of departure is now the weekend of the 23rd/24th March. I need to find someone to travel with me as it's too long for a solo run (60-70hrs). Heres hoping for a Southerly that weekend.