Issue date
The last two days before the 2013 Optimist World Championships has seen plenty of activity and the town of Garda, Italy has filled with opti sailors, supporters and all their gear - there are certainly some great sites to be seen with teams all loaded up and truly set to travel around Europe.
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Several teams have been 'in camp' for two months doing a circuit around Europe and the confidence amongst these teams is high.
Sunday afternoon saw measurement take place and it went relatively smoothly. Some sail adjustments were needed as was a slight modification to rigging and couple of boat weights added, it was a thorough process that saw most of the gear removed from the hulls so the shore crew and sailors had a few extra hours added to the day to get the boats back into racing mode!
Lake Garda's weather has come true to form and we have had a continuation of Peler breezes in the morning (favours sailing from Torbole) and then the Ora builds around lunchtime - steadily rising to a good 20 knots plus by about 1.00pm.
The New Zealand team had a lay day on Monday - and after a walk up the side of the lake to view the wind patterns, took to the water - this time trying out the local catamarans.
Tuesday was practice race day and after the pre-regatta we were hoping (optimistically) for a better race, however a very strong Ora put pay to going out for too long as the thought of new sails being destroyed before racing proper was not ideal.
Most of the fleet started the race with about 30 seconds to go, but both Nick Egnot-Johnson and Alastair Gifford held back and tested their boat speed and caught most sailors by the top mark. All of the sailors had a good run though and it allowed final adjustments and trimming to be made.
The Ora then quietened down a little and the opening ceremony got underway about 5.30pm.
Garda has the most magnificent facilities and all of the 260 sailors assembled inside a giant marquee before being lead by a band through the streets of Old Riva del Garda. A wonderful experience with all the bright colours of the international teams contrasting against the age of the terracotta tiled and plastered buildings and with wooden shutters open and people leaning out to see the sailors.
In the "old" square all of the teams were welcomed and placed their flags in a regatta holder - to be displayed for the week. The NZL team then took up the challenge and performed a moving haka on the stage.
Regards from the: 2013 NZL International Yachting Trust Optimist World's Team
