A report from the Aussie Yngling girls
'Ynglings Hyeres 2008 Day 2'
Franck Socha
Below is a report from Qingdao from Karyn Gojnich, the mainsheet hand on the Aussie Yngling (the Women's Keelboat). Karyn is a sailing legend. She is heading into her third Olympics, with her Olympic sailing career spanning 20 years.Karyn is also the Mum of two teenage girls. She is a role model for all on the Australian Sailing Team.
'Hello again from Qingdao, China,
With less than one month to go to the start of the Olympic Games things are ramping up here in China.
On July 8th the Chinese weather bureau had a test run at controlling the weather in Beijing for the Opening Ceremony. China TV reported from a room full of boffins behind computer screens that the test was successful. Our weather man Sam explained that if there is rain in the vicinity they make it rain sooner rather than later. Unfortunately I don't think they have the technology to give us a perfect 8 to 12 knots of wind to sail in down here in Qingdao.
The army and local volunteers here are making headway with the algae problem. There are still hundreds of boats out on the water collecting it each day, and even more resources on land loading up and trucking it away perhaps to make up the seaweed sheets that wrap up the sushi we all enjoy. It is an amazing sight to see the army marching in each day.
Security everywhere has increased. For a while we have been very aware of the many cameras strategically placed in corridors, entrance ways, and elevators. Now after our taxis are checked for bombs when we return to the hotel, we also have to pass through screening and bag searches similar to that at an airport. This security checking is in place now to enter all of the official Olympic Hotels in Qingdao.
All of our training is not on the water. A few days ago we had some media training. We had a crew from CCTV (China TV) follow us for a life in the day of a sailor. They could not believe we were starting the day at 6am at the local gym and later caused a bit of commotion filming us eating breakfast at the hotel. Mid morning the film crew did not last long out on the water with little wind and a confused swell bobbing us up and down like a cork. They were no where to be seen when we returned to the dock 5 hours later. For us this was an exercise in being comfortable with answering questions and building up a bit of tolerance to some of the frustrating distractions that will come along as part of our Olympic Games regatta.
Each day here the temperature and humidity is rising. You can see tempers fraying in the boat park. In some cases with good reason. We have all had to ship our equipment here to race to China. Many teams have not been able to get out on the water as there have been huge delays with containers being unloaded and then subsequently clearing customs. Some teams have sat on shore for 2 weeks waiting for their containers to be delivered. Today we received the breakfast cereals, power bars and food supplies that were sent from Australia in April. They were supposed to be here for our first camp in China at the beginning of June.
Lack of wind is also a source of frustration. We had three days in a row in this last week when it would have been impossible for the race committee to get in a race.
The water temperature here is still relatively cool compared to the land and this is creating a sea fog with visibility at times down to just 50 meters We take compass bearings as we leave the harbour and the coach now carries a GPS so that we can find our way home again. Today we had to abandon our training - visibility shut down completely - it was like being in a white out at the snow - and it was just dangerous to be out on the water.
We are all still dieting - which I have to say seems to come a bit easier to Krystal and Angela than it does me. None the less we are looking at being on target to be the lightest crew in the fleet.
We have another five days in China before we are home for just seven days. The whole of the Australian Sailing Team is meeting in Hong Kong for a pre games camp on July 24. There will be a bit of administration but I get the feeling it is more about just getting us away from the distractions of home, relaxing and getting used to the hot and muggy weather conditions. We will settle in to the Olympic Village on July 28. 
Racing for us starts on August 9, less than a month away. I am sure the time will go quickly.'
Karyn
Karyn Gojnich
Member of the Australian Sailing Team
Yngling
Report from www.www.sailing-dog.comclick here
by Karyn Gojnich/Sailing Dog 
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