Diary From Qingdao
August 21, 2006
Team Leader Katie Kelly writes:
Today was the first race day. The team was up and ready to go, doing their own pre-race rituals and getting down to the venue. The Performance Enhancement Team (PET) was busy last night and this morning getting the team ready. PET has 3 members here in Qingdao. With 34 athletes on the USST, they are busy night and day, but they are providing a fabulous resource for the athletes. Mark, Scott & Shawn have quickly become a huge asset to the team, with both their skills and their smiles.
After a short bus ride or scary cab ride, we arrived at the venue entrance and had to go through security checks. Our containers are at the very end of the venue, but it's nice because we have lots of space for all of our stuff. After individual preparation, it was time to go. The large size of the venue made it faster to launch. The designers really examined the needs of sailors at a regatta venue and have absolutely provided the best in all areas. The launch ramps are huge, the amount of space allocated to each team is also huge -- the whole thing in general is huge! Once you launch your boat, a volunteer takes your dolly or trailer back to your assigned parking area. A very efficient system. The hoists can be a bit slow, but for the most part, everything is running smoothly.
Everywhere you turn, there is someone ready to help you, always with a big smile. We are having fun trying to learn Chinese. I think we've all learned Xie Xie, which means thank you. The Chinese are just as eager to practice their English with us so it works out well.
Everyone was due to start at 1 p.m. and just like everything else associated with this regatta, the courses are big and really far apart. Some of the classes have a quick sail, some are hours away, even by tow. Course Alpha is adjacent to the venue, so spectators are actually watching from the breakwater. I was on the Alpha course today with Coach Luther Carpenter. The 49ers shared the course with RS:X. We saw some interesting conditions today, so it turned into a long day for all. There was enough wind to race, but just enough, so it made for a slow, long day.
I'm sure both sailors and organizers are happy to have day one under their belts. This is a long regatta with lots of racing left, so the troops will be ready to get back out there tomorrow!