From Atlantic Crossings to America’s Cup: Paikea’s Barcelona Homecoming & Hull Assessment

/ Boat Systems and Upgrades, Paikea Refit / By

Author: Anna and Shayne

Key Topic: This post documents Paikea’s return to Barcelona for her next refit phase, reflecting on major past upgrades like the America’s Cup rig and carbon chainplates. It covers the transition from cruising to America’s Cup involvement and details the professional assessment of a significant hull crack discovered during haul-out, caused by previous improper blocking—a critical lesson in boatyard practices.

Introduction: A Mediterranean Homecoming

After an adventurous few years and a second Atlantic crossing, Paikea is back in the Mediterranean. Spain is where we first began modifying our Catana 42 over four years ago, and it’s where we now embark on the next chapter of her refit. This homecoming, however, began with an immediate and stark reminder of the importance of professional boatyard practices: the discovery of a significant hull crack as she settled into her blocks.

1. Reflecting on Paikea’s Transformation

Our journey to this point has been defined by ambitious upgrades, many of which were conceived right here in Spain. To understand where we’re going, it’s helpful to remember how far Paikea has come.

The Core Upgrades:

  • The America’s Cup Rig: We sourced an ex-America’s Cup rig destined for scrap. Made from high-modulus carbon, it was stiff enough to run without spreaders, significantly simplifying our systems. We also engineered it to be rotating.
  • The Sail Inventory: We built our inventory by recutting old racing sails into a square-top mainsail, headsail, storm sail, and Code 0. Two RC44 spinnakers became perfect for us once we shortened the luffs.
  • Structural Reinforcements: To handle the loads from this new rig and sail plan, Shayne led a major project to upgrade the existing front beam and add a longeron. The resulting structure is both strong and elegant.
  • The Rudder Project (A Learning Experience): We initially fitted new rudder blades to the existing stainless steel stocks. This proved to be a critical lesson when one stock failed 800 nautical miles from land during our first Atlantic crossing, a risk we could not repeat for the return trip to Europe.
  • Carbon Chainplates: Between professional work, we designed and built carbon fiber chainplates to replace the failing stainless steel originals, a testament to our composite engineering capabilities.

This history of problem-solving under pressure set the stage for our return to Barcelona, not just as cruisers, but as America’s Cup participants.

2. The Barcelona Shift: America’s Cup Calls

Our plans for a leisurely interior refit were upended when Shayne was offered a place on the French America’s Cup challenger team. This meant a total reassessment of our location, work, and priorities, but it was an opportunity we couldn’t refuse.

The rush to prepare for another Atlantic crossing was intense. We had to replace the remaining faulty rudder stock and finalize other critical systems, often working without a proper workshop from the aft cockpit of Paikea. Successfully completing these projects allowed for a safe and easy passage back to the Med, arriving just in time for Shayne to dive into the AC37 preliminary regatta in Vilanova.

3. Haul-Out & The Hull Crack Discovery

With the first America’s Cup event concluded, our focus shifted to hauling Paikea for her long-awaited refit. The operation was tense, navigating our 42-foot catamaran into a remarkably narrow pit. The success of this delicate maneuver was quickly overshadowed by a more serious discovery.

As the boys began assessing the hull, they found a significant crack in the laminate. Investigation confirmed the cause: a block had been placed in the wrong spot during a previous haul-out, creating a hard point that over-stressed the hull. This is a classic, yet entirely preventable, failure caused by incorrect support.

The repair itself is a manageable composite engineering task—grinding out the damaged laminate and re-building it with precision. The greater lesson is one we emphasize to all boat owners: you must always ensure your boat is blocked correctly on the hard. The right spots are always aligned with internal structural members like bulkheads. This incident underscores why professional oversight during haul-out is non-negotiable.

Conclusion: Looking Forward

Finding a hull crack is never a welcome sight, but for our team, it’s a solvable problem. It immediately defines the first major scope of work for Paikea’s Barcelona refit. As we balance the demands of the America’s Cup campaign with our own project, we move forward with a clear purpose: to methodically restore and improve Paikea, applying the same professional standards we bring to the highest levels of the sport.

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