Issue date
We have mixed emotions about our time in Helsinki. A week on from the 2014 Europeans the dust has settled, and we are able to see our strengths and weaknesses more clearly - our performance over the competition had its highs and lows, but we are happy with a 3rd place. We think our campaign is on track, and most importantly we have identified the major gaps, which we will look to improve on going forward and before the Worlds this year.
Our campaign is on track, and most importantly we have identified the major gaps, which we will look to improve on going forward and before the Worlds this year.
Since competing, we have had some great time away from the boat park and were able to see some amazing places. After packing up and loading the trailer, which has made its way back down to Spain, we had a great team dinner in Helsinki, and a bit of a boogie with the other sailors until sunrise (which isn’t that impressive being so far north, the stars are rarely out!). The next day we headed to Berlin where we had four days of being hosted by friends and Molly’s old flatmate Louisa - a bunch of kiwis exploring the city.
Berlin is rich with history and has a vibrant, young vibe. As everything is so spread out, we quickly got accustomed to the train routes as we checked out the sights each day. With World War II and the quick transition into the Cold War, which led to the rising of the Berlin wall that divided the city into the communist East side and the democratic West side, there were many attractions to be seen. Too many to ever see in only four days!
We enjoyed learning about the history and, some highlights included Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery - which is the longest part of the Berlin wall still standing - and then an informative underground tour of an air raid shelter that was located under a train station.
We enjoyed learning about the history and, some highlights included Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery - which is the longest part of the Berlin wall still standing - and then an informative underground tour of an air raid shelter that was located under a train station. It is just crazy to think how differently we live our lives now, and it also makes us feel fortunate that our home is an island a little bit isolated in the South Pacific.
While we were there, we also spent a lot of time at a local Berlin lake, where it was nice to be in nature in such a big city. We did fitness in the park and a lot of six km laps around the lake to keep our fitness up... Although site seeing is tiring, unfortunately, it doesn’t prepare you for FX racing. With weather in the late 20’s each day, it was always entertaining to see the flocks of people heading down to the lake to enjoy a swim and a picnic. Quite different to the NZ summer beach and batch scene!
We had a frantic run through Lisbon airport to catch our next connecting flight... fortunately we made it, but our baggage wasn’t so lucky.
After an interesting few days, we gladly welcomed putting our feet up on the plane trip to Rio which was punctuated by the frantic run through Lisbon airport to catch our next connecting flight... fortunately we made it, but our baggage wasn’t so lucky.
The shuttle to our accommodation and home yacht club in Rio was an eye opener for us. We passed by shacks (Favelas) on the hillsides lining the motorways which make up a large percentage of Rio’s population. It not only made us feel fortunate for our lifestyle, but made us more aware of the city we are visiting.
The scenery is breath-taking, with the mountains that surround the bay and steep cliffs leading into the water.
As we were the first of the NZL Sailing team to arrive in Rio, the first night our good friend and competitor Martine had us to stay. Waking up was surreal with bird calls all around us it was great to see the city in daylight for the first time. Their resident parrot awaited us on the stairs, and as well as an amazing view of Niteroi Bay, which is lined with palm trees and white sandy beaches, we are truly in Brazil.
Our first day has been pretty chilled here in Rio, spent checking out the local sailing club and then waiting for our missing baggage to arrive. The scenery is breath-taking, with the mountains that surround the bay and steep cliffs leading into the water. You can just imagine what Rio would have looked like when the explorers first found it. Before humans inhabited the bays, it must have been a luscious, beautiful paradise, where we have been told whales once had their breeding grounds.
We have our fingers crossed that all of our team makes it out of Rio without getting sick!
Unfortunately, with the hillside Favelas, comes the run off of human waste, and the once clean water now looks not so appealing with rubbish swimming in it and the water taking on a dirty brown colour. We have our fingers crossed that all of our team makes it out of Rio without getting sick!
On the far side of the bay, you can make out the famous Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer statue. The checklist of adventures to go on is growing! Tomorrow we unload the containers and start the rigging up process. It will be a long day but worth it as we are looking forward to getting out on the water for the first time! The main goal for the trip is to get accustomed to being in Rio, and the sailing conditions here.
The main goal for the trip is to get accustomed to being in Rio, and the sailing conditions here.
We will compete in the Rio Test Event at the end of our time here in Brazil from the 4th to the 8th of August. This competition is the first run-through event for both the organisers and sailors, and it will be great to get to know the rough course areas planned for the 2016 Olympics. After a great break, we are ready to get back into and learn as much as possible! #roadtorio
