Day 1

How to check out the racing

Day 1

We got down to the course this morning in the misty rain to watch a couple of races to see how the new course is working. They did try to put out an Aotearoa style course (with buoys every 50 m) but that was a disaster. So they pulled that all out. We now have a Hawaiian version of a race course; big flags on poles (not buoys) at false start, smaller flags at the start (on poles not on buoys – can’t push those out of the way:( There are 15m lane entry and 15m lane exit buoys and the rest is up to guess work. It’ll be a challenge for those of us who are used to a more defined course. But I’m sure we will manage. They have changed the colours of the flags and the flags themselves are much bigger and so will be easier to see.

We watched the elites racing from under the shelter of Aotearoa’s tent. Visibility was misty and low.

Races seemed to start quickly once they were at the start line. However, they are only allowing one set of waka on the course at a time. i.e waka are loaded out for a race, line up, race, come off the course before the next race loads out. This has meant that the racing is way, way behind schedule. At NZ Sprint nationals the programme used to set the schedule allows around 10mins for a turns race and 7 mins for a straight race. They have used that program here for the schedule but it relies on having another set of waka at the start to be ready as soon as the course is cleared from the last race. We will see what happens in the coming days.

Penny’s comments were that Waka seemed to be staying in lane and that Lane 1 looked like it was a slower lane because of the backwash coming off the shoreline at the start of the course.

An aside: Best purchase, best bought

People were very generous before we left, giving money to our fundraising and some to us individually. The fundraising fund has paid for our accommodation, our car hire (which is a Chevvy Tahoe which Paul wants to take home), our uniforms and, after we all put money in, is paying for our groceries. After much deliberation I used one of the donations I personally received to purchase a travelling Aeropress (coffee maker). Best thing ever in a land that grows coffee but definitely doesn’t cater to us Kiwi coffee ‘connoisseurs’ (a fancy way of saying coffee snobs:) I also bought espresso ground coffee with me. Just as well – you can only buy beans or drip coffee ground here.

There has been a constant search to try to get a good cup of coffee at cafes in town. The best cafe so far with acceptable espresso is The Chocolate Cafe but it still has a bitter aftertaste. At least its not cold brew!

The other thing I threw in at the last minute was my keep cup. What a great thing. the coffee mugs here are huge, chunky and heavy.

We got here and as in America found that the water is boiled in a kettle on the stove. The kettle we had was difficult to pour from and had a funny taste so we were heating up water in a little pot on the stove. On one of tour trips to Target I found a very small selection of electric jugs. I came out with a 1.7litre for us, and two 1 litres for Linda and for Jane. Best Buy Ever and its even pretty.

Day 2

More V1 and elite paddling today. Gaylene and Katja are racing in the V1 500m Master Women 75 so we will go and watch them shortly. It’s a beautiful day after all the misty rain yesterday. I just hope the wind doesn’t get up. Nyree King in MW60 V1 said that there was a lot of left side paddling because of the swell. Jane’s partner Maurie is also paddling today in MM75. Kura Heke came first in her heat.

We were told that out of 21 races there were 17 DQs, mostly for paddling out of lane – easy to do with no lane markers. There were the usual “started out of lane” and “finished out of lane” as well (sometimes a combination of all 3:)

Tonight is haka and waiata practice again with Soph which is always an enjoyable experience.