Adela, averaging 295 tonnes when cruising, needs to be stripped out for racing. The person responsible? Local Falmouth boy Tristan, who  as deckhand, is responsible for removing every unnecessary item in order to make the boat lighter for racing. This is just one of the tasks that the new crewmember is faced with, days before the race.

Seven months into the job, his enthusiasm is apparent as he gears up to race in his hometown. “There are a million and one things to get done before we start sailing” he tells me. “Everything not needed for the race gets removed. We sort through the bilges, the forepeak, and the lazarette. All cruising sails come off, as does spare sheets. Even cleaning products!” He laughs.

Chasing him round the deck, I realise that a deckhands job has many dimensions, from splicing sheets, scrubbing the topsides, to checking blocks, everything needs to be investigated to ensure the boat is safe and prepared for a long week racing. He seems to rarely get a minute to himself and is constantly working to a timeframe; this week it has all come to a head; the sheer scale of the task at hand would discourage most people; over 40 different sheets, lines and halyards to check for chafage, damage and general wear and tear.

With all the demands of regattas, I asked if he could see himself doing anything else: ‘Sailing is my life and it’s great to be racing at home. For years I used to race on these waters on my father’s 31ft yacht, but this is a different class altogether and to be racing competitively on Adela is a real dream”

Click here to read about Adela’s Chef Jolie.