Burning the Oil

The shed buzzed with tools and bodies overnight. The normal post-race routines were much the same, just intensified tenfold. The monumental task of managing the repair fell to head boatbuilder Sean Regan, chief of delegation. Structural engineers tested the hulls and wing for integrity, because damage you can’t see is the worst kind. Hydraulic and electrical teams examined their respective areas, to the extent they could, while the boat was idle in its cradle. The wing team disassembled the tattered wing while boatbuilders swarmed over the fairings to see what could be rebuilt or salvaged. The sailors who were less skilled at boatbuilding picked up trash and swept the floors all night, and offered spare hands and muscle where needed. Most of the designers grabbed hair dryers and held fans to accelerate the drying process. When not making food to fuel the team, the kitchen crew was among the carnage, taking orders with the rest of the team. Administrative staffers served coffee and boosted morale until sun up. Everyone was involved and nobody went home until all that was left to do was wait for first repairs to cure and the boat to dry.