Diary From Qingdao
August 26, 2006
Katie Kelly writes:
This morning began as one of the most exciting yet here in Qingdao - regatta-wise. We opened the curtains to pouring down rain, thunder and wind! At breakfast this morning, many on the team were really looking forward to great race day, but it was just not meant to be. I arrived at the venue to a massive rain squall that sent many of the sun shade tents sailing across the boat park. Our own PET tent was blown over too. That was just about the last of the wind that we saw for the day, despite the forecasts.
At 11 a.m., the wind was still holding, so out they went, expecting to race. Once out of the harbor and by the lighthouse, huge swells were kicking up, causing a wipeout or two on the tow out. Once at the race area, everyone just sat and sat … and sat some more. Well, rolled actually. The sea kicked up some big waves, which brought about the most excitement of the afternoon. Racing didn't actually get underway until very late in the afternoon, which meant the sailors had hours to roll around out there. I actually went out to Delta course to deliver some medicine for some who were seasick. Unfortunately, many got the bug today, but it was tough to avoid.
At sunset, the Ynglings finally came in to the harbor. What a frustrating day. Everyone was left to slog around out there for hours and hours, and if races were sailed, they were poor quality races. Most didn't even get a race in. Lots of energy and enthusiasm were sucked out of the troops today.
Today was our first day since we've been here that we've been without our lifeline to Chinese culture, David Pan. The USOC introduced me to David via email over a year ago now, and we've worked together since to put the pieces together for this trip. David joined us in Qingdao and has served as a trusty translator, but also as a guide and helper through the Chinese culture. He is a professor back in the U.S., so he will travel back home tomorrow as he has a commitment to his students. We will certainly miss his help. Thanks to David for all of his services, guidance and expertise.
The end of the day is often my favorite time of the day. Here at the hotel, there are several restaurant options, but Team USA has a favorite, hands down: the "upstairs" restaurant since I'm not sure what its official name is. I'm sure you'll be shocked to hear it's a Chinese food restaurant, but it has really, really good food. For the first few days, Samantha, our hotel liaison, stood by ready to help us order food that we could recognize and that wouldn't make our stomachs flip. We've eaten there so often now that we know, and they know, what we like. You can walk in to the restaurant at any hour close to dinner time and find the room full of Team members. It's nice to float from table to table, checking in, asking about the day of racing (if there was any), and just sharing experiences from Qingdao. I do this whenever I go in, and I've noticed the sailors do as well. We've melded as a team, which is so nice to see.
For the sailors sake, pray for wind in Qingdao tomorrow!
