Yachting Australia

Third is Andrew Mcdougal, 4th Oliver Laing and 5th Steven Donovan. Japanese sailor Keiya Funahashi is in 6th. The other 39 competitors all had a least one dnc or dnf so are well back on points. Racing has been postponed because it`s blowing 25-30kt and raining - there is a typhoon about 200nm to the south and coming this way !!! We have moved our tents three times now to get out of the puddles and the wind.

I spent most of last night up to my ears in carbon and epoxy resin fixing the rudder so it's now ready to go but I don't think we will be sailing today. Lay day tomorrow and we're off to the local school where the grade 3-8 kids are going to sing/dance and cook for us.

Phil Stevenson writes:

Moths have gathered at Choshi, Japan, for their world titles. Chief organiser Masa Ogura has set up camp with mini vans, tents and camping gear, creating what is traditionally known in Japanese Moth circles as Hotel Nisan, but for this series has been renamed Pub Capsize.

The Aussies moved out of the club house into their tents. The Pacific Peso does not cover the budget of the Sports Lodge where the Swiss and Germans are staying. No worries Mate, Pub Capsize looks good.

Boats are mostly Mark Thorpe Hungry Tigers or close copies, plus some older designs. Only exception is Freddy Duboisin (Swe) who has a low freeboard design with high trampoline like Greg K from South Oz. He will be busy if the waves come up. No foilers at all. Fleet should be about 45.

Rigging on bitumin boat park and launching into harbour via slippery concrete ramp, which we have been sharing with a jet ski factory test program.

Yesterday they crashed a ski about 50 times into the ramp to see if it would break. Other times they do capsizes and roll overs. They have and enormous truck and heaps of mechanics etc. I do not think they know how popular they are with (NSW Premier) Bob Carr.

The local area is amazing, narrow streets, tiny houses, a mix of farms, housing and industry, every square metre is used. Speed limit every where is 40 or 50 so moving about is slow. It took 1.5 hrs to get the 50km from the

airport on Tuesday.

Shopping is interesting there is very little English labelling. Like there is almost no English road signage or shop signs. We need to look in windows to see what they sell.

The locals are very helpful and generous. NTT have set up 3 laptop PCs with cable modem so we can send these messages. In today's rain it is popular activity. We will be going sightseeing when the weather improves. Sailing later if it and visibility improves some more.

Other Links
	Event Website