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What this video covers

Gerrit Louw prepared the Swan 53 Sterner for the Ocean Globe Race by replacing the original hydraulic in-mast furling and Regman hydraulic systems with a manual profile furler and a slab-reefing mainsail.1:04 To stiffen the mast for Southern Ocean conditions, the crew added a 10mm aluminium plate to the mast section to mount a Harken track.2:12 The team rebuilt all original Lewmar 54 and 43 winches and replaced all port lights and hatches with cast acrylic for increased structural integrity.3:16 Deck modifications include relocating instrument cubbies to the pedestal and installing a Lewmar winch for the traveller and mainsheet, allowing the crew to manage sail controls from the cockpit without going forward in heavy weather.4:10 The sail inventory features a 110% genoa, a 110% yankee, and a reefable 100% staysail, with the mainsail reinforced for four reefs.8:40 The crew of eight, selected via the Ocean Globe Race website, completed 12,000 miles of training, including a transatlantic crossing, to prepare for the race's celestial navigation requirements.5:37

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