Issue date
Buenos Dias all, Kiwi's love a challenge, any challenge, us Valencia Kiwis have plenty.
The first was trying to find our way to the Opening Ceremony from the 420 Worlds site or from apartments in the city, shouldn't have been too hard but with an over reliance on technology that doesn't seem to work well in this city, somewhat obscure directions from the Regatta Organisers, some of our sailors and supporters were rather late.
There was some expectations of a Grand March past as in past Worlds but just a boy and girl from each Nation got to bear their Flag up to the area full of Flamenco dancers, then Official speeches. Liv Mackay and Taylor Burn represented NZL. Those finally over, the sailors had a great time mixing with all the others as they trooped upstairs for Tapas, the local ham specialty, more Flamenco Dancing, and some (non) alcoholic cocktails. The Support crew went off to enjoy a nearby restaurant.
Whirling hooded devils shooting fireworks completed the evening, the devils whirling and twirling to the beat of the drummers and pipes.
Getting out of the car park in one piece was a challenge afterward, just scraping in the maximum height, the wrong way out in the 'In' lane ....still we made it.
Measurement for the Kiwis was scheduled for 11 am but we managed to get in early. The heat was building to 'intense' as we waited in line to get into the Measurement tent. Four of our six boats were underweight, booms didn't measure etc .... a frantic dash to buy lead or zinc to bolt on the back to comply then put the boats together for the Practice race scheduled for 3pm. Final sign off of Measurement came after the Practice race when some boats failed again and more drilling, riveting, taping and gluing took place. Just goes to show you can never have too many tools ...or too many friends that will lend you tools, Thanks, Hong Kong, for the rivet gun.
One thing we have learned over the years is the Practice Race at any Worlds is always a complete shambles.
The Open Course is about an hour and a half sail South, the Women's about half that. There were three flights on the Open Course, everyone started together anyway, still our sailors seemed to enjoy the experience and were happy with how they went in a very sailable breeze. Two flights in the Women's course (or Girls, but officially Ladies ...can't quite get my head around that yet), Eliza said they got out there but kept out of the melee, just sailed up and down. Everyone was in early and gave a chance for a swim off the pontoon and finish Measurement.
Home to read the Sailing Instructions, early to bed, 1st race at 1pm tomorrow, Thursday, local time. Tomorrow is the launch of the new start up, Burn Gibbs Charters, we get our big Rib tomorrow and go into business providing spectator services on the Open Course.
There is lots of reports coming out and videos on YouTube. For any aspiring sailor, this is one event you really, really, want to aim for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0ORSkxvlwA
http://www.420sailing.org/event-v2.asp?eventid=124480 for full information, updates, results etc.
Happy sailing
Rob
