9 July 2005

Practice day 2 was a non starter ‘till 12h00 when the wind started picking up. We rigged early and sat on the water talking and chucking around ideas. Biscuits and juice for snacks. Then the crew went on some long downwind hauls to try and get the rhythm and into the mode. We did the usal pacing and tested the course area using split tacks. We found neither side favoured but the wind streaks were evident and and 3.5kt difference was measured between the calm areas and vs. in the streaks.

The Dutch set up a small windward Leeward course and we joined them for some starting practice. Within minutes several other countries GBR, USA, BER and BEL joined the melee in now 12-15kts of breeze with a short steep chop; very surfable. I was grateful to the Dutch coach from sail-a-coach who had brought the buoys and got the practice going.

Tired bodies went home afterwards; We had been on the water for 5 hrs at an average temp of 29.5 degrees!

Poland seems to be arriving lemming-like in Gydnia. The streets are packed, it seems mandatory to walk with beer in hand, chick on left and ice cream in other hand. Everyone is raging and there is a serious festival holiday atmosphere. It’s a haven for the young. Music blares from 100 gumba-gumbas everywhere and it’s like a 24hr carnival!

Lunch at 16h00 and an hour in the pool, some bungie jumping and supper on the pavement saw the team into rooms at 22h00! Brekker tomorrow at 10h00!

Rob Walker