SAN DIEGO – Eight days and 2,100 man-hours after a rogue “mini-tornado” ravaged their new boat, PACT 95’s sailors took Young America to sea Friday to prepare for Sunday’s delayed America’s Cup debut.

The original schedule was adjusted to give the Bangor-based syndicate two extra days to repair the hull, which was ashore in its cradle during a fierce storm the night of Jan. 4.

The small twister ignored nearby team compounds, lifted the fabric-and-framework sail loft off its foundation and slammed it onto the bow of the boat. The steel cradle collapsed and the boat tipped partway over into cargo containers, causing what is now estimated to be as much as $650,000 in damage. The mast, which costs about $350,000, apparently was not damaged.

“We now call the compound Oz,” skipper Kevin Mahaney said.

The elaborate logo running the length of the 80-foot boat is a mermaid nicknamed Dusty. She has been renamed Dorothy. But the crew won’t wear ruby red slippers.

“Dorothy had some trauma but we got her back together,” Mahaney said.

Thursday’s postponement of the first defenders’ race between Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes and the America3 women because of heavy seas did not change PACT 95’s adjusted schedule. Thursday’s race was moved to the end of the line in the first round robin series Jan. 21. Weather permitting, Young America will sail six consecutive days starting Sunday against America3.

In the wake of the most recent storms to lash California, conditions at San Diego Friday were sunny with light wind, although more rain was forecast for Sunday. Rain alone will not stop the racing. Lumpy seas – common off San Diego – and winds in excess of 20 knots – uncommon locally – cause concern for these fast but fragile craft.

Repairs and structural tests on Young America were completed Thursday night, and early Friday morning the boat was towed around Point Loma from Mission Bay to the San Diego Yacht Club in San Diego Bay for official measurements.

Then the crew took it right back out to the race course area, where Conner was racing the women, to check it under sail. Guy Buchanan, a structural engineer, and designer Bruce Nelson were aboard, listening for what chief financial officer Tom Stark described as “creaking indications of hidden damage.”

Although still holding their breath, Stark said: “We’re excited. Despite the weather, we put in huge amounts of time.”

The repair job went on around the clock. Stark said the 2,100 man-hours he logged amounted to “what an average man works in a year.” Each member of the crew averaged 14 hours per day.

A tent was built around the boat to protect workers from the continuing rain and wind. The most difficult task was patching the holes in the carbon-fiber hull around Dorothy’s head and upper body.

“We actually did it three times to get the right mix of epoxy,” Stark said. “We’ve checked the mast over thoroughly and are comfortable we’re going to be all right.”

They brought in heaters to apply 600,000 BTUs to dry and cure the material.

If the boat proves sound, all that remained was to replace the sail loft, a basketball court-sized platform now open to the sky. A new $25,000 canopy was being flown in from Florida Friday.

Stark indicated the crew will not push the boat hard in the early races, since victories in the first round count only one point and since all three defenders will be in the semifinals starting March 18.