Report from Rio- Team Jolly on the South American 470 Nationals
by Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie on 2 Aug 2014
Team Jolly get off the start line in the South American 470 Nationals at Rio SW
Current 470 World Champions, Polly Powrie and Jo Aleh, are currently competing in the South American 470 Championships in Rio, Brazil, ahead of the Olympic Test event starting on Monday.
They report from Rio:
Gonzo (their new boat) seeing some action for the first time in Rio, we are currently taking part in the South American Championships, racing in Rio for the first time...
So basically it is another continent, another blue boat named after a muppet... But it happens to be winter - a bit of a shock after the sun and warmth of Athens, although to be fair, Brazilian winter is a lot like NZ summer... Although possibly more rain...
We have been here in Rio for nearly two weeks, training at our training base in Niteroi (other side of the harbour from the Olympic venue - sort of like the North Shore to Auckland) and now we have raced for two days, with one day and two races still remaining in these SA Champs.. Been great racing, all the top boats are out, we are all going hard, getting some races right.. some, not so much...
It is awesome to be doing a regatta that is not a Europeans/World Cup/World Champs.. a little less pressure, a little more opportunity to try a few things, have some fun, make some mistakes (but no capsizing - we are finished with that nonsense), and basically just start learning about Rio harbour as a sailing venue...
It is now two years to go until the Games, with the Test Event taking place from the Olympic Venue starting on Monday - The real reason we are here. We are happy to be here, this is an amazing city, yes - the water ain't the best we have seen, but it is better than last year and its not like we will be doing any swimming anyway (!).
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