Things gear up for the Worlds

Within the pine forests and on the sandy beaches of the PuntAla Camping & Resort, the excitement is building. The little lizards are scampering about in anticipation as the A-Cat Worlds start Monday, the practice race is due Sunday.  This should see the biggest A-Cat fleet starts ever witnessed by most sailors.  85 or so boats in two fleets, stretched out, should be a magnificent sight. The sound of their pilots screaming at each other could also be an interesting thing to witness.

Every day now, there have been increasing numbers arriving. The rigging and pit areas have been bustling with sailors checking, altering, wondering how this went together last time, asking people why they did that, and all the usual fun banter that is part of the enjoyment of this beautiful class, sailed by these most elegant of sailors.  Those gorgeous thong clad Italian beach lovelies have had to move over, as the beach adjacent to the place is taken over by these carbon race machines.  However, I do have it from a reliable witness that one or two lovelies can still be seen, accompanied by their oiled and tanned Adonis-like escorts.

The beach and event organisation is now in full swing under the tight authoritarian control of the superb Marielouisa.  She really is an asset to this place, and together with her oppo Paola and the team, it is all running in the most un-Italian way possible!  Measurements are happening, training is happening, it’s all happening.  Yesterday, we saw the largest number of boats out yet, must have been 70 or so, over towards the Punta Ala headland as that was where the wind was.  Many sailors came back with silly grins.  One particularly happy Scotsman, Hugh MacGregor, driving all the way down from near Glasgow, claimed that sailing alone was worth his 1700 mile trip.

Today will be more of the same we hope.  The wind seems to arrive about lunchtime.  However, there does look to be changeable weather on the way at some point over the weekend.  The practice day could be disrupted, if they are particularly unfortunate, and the opening ceremony could be in jeopardy if the promised thunderstorms arrive.  But there’s nothing we can do other than live for the moment here.  Many are doing just that.  The WAGS are discovering the bars and the beach venders, so all is right with the World.

Fingers crossed…