We have been in China nearly a week now and have seen a good mix of conditions from no wind to 25 knots!!! So the training has been varied.
One of the biggest challenges was getting the boats out of the containers, as we had no keys for the padlocks! Nick went for the brute force route trying to smash them off before I managed to borrow a hacksaw, 20 minutes and a few blisters later and we were in.

Today the visibility was a real issue as we could barely see further than 100m, at one stage we lost the Kiwi coach as he drove off in his rib to be the leward mark. Chris had to telephone him with our GPS coordinates, 20 minutes later he appeared through the fog!!!

The highlight so far has to be the big Tennis match where Nick and I won in straight sets 6-0 6-1 against the New Zealand team of Foxy and Murdock, we even went to the trouble of buying matching team kit from the market.

It has been a busy few days before I’m finally here in China!

I managed to squeeze a fitness test in before I flew out on Wednesday. This involves a few tests at the University of Chichester. I started on a stationary SRM bike that is controlled by a computer to determine the exercise intensity. The first test was a 4 stage aerobic test that lead into a max test where you finish when you can’t go any longer, this isn’t nice and you don’t feel too good at the end. Heart rates are recorded through out the test and samples of blood are taken at different stages. A mask is also worn to collect the air that’s exhaled at certain key stages. After this, there was a short break before a few strength tests and then a sprint test on the rowing machine. The initial reaction from the Physiologist Pete Cunningham was good. I now wait for the data to be processed for the more detailed results before I get my new training program. (Cant wait!!!!!!)

We have finally made it to the team house in Qingdao, which is right by the Olympic Marina. We had a bit of luck with the taxi driver who understood the Chinese written address cards and took us straight to the house.

We have just met up with Chris and made some plans for getting the boats out of containers and the training ahead, with a bit of luck we’ll make it on the water tomorrow, fingers crossed!!!!

This weekend was the last time I will compete on British waters before the Olympics. It was quite fitting that it was in Weymouth, the waters for the next Olympic sailing event post China.

Saturday was very light winds and the race officer decided to hold the fleet ashore. Unfortunately the wind dropped and the racing for the day was cancelled. A few of us decided that we would hold our own mini regatta using model RC Lasers off the pontoons. Penny Clark came out on top just ahead of her husband and Stewart Blithfield, it was a close fight between Nick and I for the wooden spoon.

Sunday was much better with the wind coming in from the East before swinging South East and increasing. We had three good races in the harbour in a 5 -12 knot breeze. I sailed really well to win all three races and take the event overall.

Im off to China on Wednesday with Nick and I’m looking forward to starting my training in Qingdao.

After Hyere I flew straight home to Weymouth ready to head off for an Olympic team building session in North Wales. On the way up I met with a few of the other guys to go mountain biking. The team building was at Plas Menai a great outdoor centre on the Menai Straights.

We started the first day with pico sailing and a regatta. I was teamed with photographer Richard Langdon so while racing we were also official camera boat. We won the first two races before Richard stepped off. With most of the sailors determined to stop me making a clean streak of wins, it was Leigh Mcmillan that pulled my boom off and broke my Kicker!!!! After starting a little late with a broken boat and no kicker i pulled back to 4th to win overall. The rest of the time was mixed between classroom sessions and a few more outdoor activities.

At the weekend I was in North Wales again for the Laser Qualifier in Pwllheli, three first places on Saturday meant that I only needed to do well in the first race on Sunday to win. A third in the first race was good enough to win the regatta with race to spare. I still sailed the last race before rushing ashore to go mountain biking again at Coed y Brenin. I drove to south Wales and stayed in Swansea for two more days riding before heading home to Weymouth.

I have a few days training now at home before another Qualifier this weekend and of to China next week. With less than 100 days to the games it’s getting ever closer!

On arriving in Hyere I was looking forward to seeing how I would cope with the strong winds, as I was now a bit lighter in preparation for China, I knew it was not going to be easy but I should benefit in the lighter winds.

After a mixed week of conditions I was happy with how I had sailed just a little frustrated with my starting early on in the week and disappointed that two races where abandoned one that I was leading the other 2nd, they never seem to get stopped when I’m at the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m back in the UK for a while off to Plas Menai for some Olympic team building and some UK based sailing before leaving for China in May.
The games are getting closer and I cant wait!

I have recently been competing at the Princess Sofia Regatta, which attracted over 100 of the best Lasers sailors from around the world so it was a very competitive event.

Luckily my wrist seemed to hold up well, and I am really pleased to have won this event, it gives me even more confidence to go into the Olympics!

I’ve just spent the past two weeks fitness and weight loss training in Palma prior to this regatta to get ready for the lighter winds in China this summer. My training schedule involves cycling, gym strength work and training on the water.

In Palma there are sea breezes in the afternoon and the water is nice and warm which is always a bonus!! The training has been varied – racing, tuning, round marking general tactic work and debriefing / coaching.

I have been back in the UK briefly training in Weymouth, and I will be heading back to Palma again to continue my training there before I head out to Hyere, France.