Letter from Valencia- Toughing it out on the Layday.

by Penny and Ralph Roberts on 30 Jun 2007
It’s Race day 4 and from the beginning the day has a different feel to it. For a start it’s cloudy and a lot cooler.

When we get to the port, there don’t seem to be as many supporters about. There are not nearly as many people in the Fore- Deck Club and where all the Kiwis gather on the opposite side of the canal, there are huge gaps in the ranks. We think it may be because an ardent fan had dived into the water with his flag the previous day and the police had put a stop to the crowds sitting there. We later learn that the crowd had all gathered outside the Team NZ base to cheer the team away.

The less said about that race, the better. No post race euphoria today, just grim smiles as supporters pass each other. The Alinghi fans, of course, are far more vocal and the cowbells have come out again. Watching these races is so manic depressive!

Thursday is a lay day and we are booked to go on a tour at the Lladro factory. We take a cab and are there in no time. It is a stunning tour, watching each of the artisans and crafts people turn out their beautiful and delicate wares. The whole factory has a family atmosphere. The staff facilities are impressive, with sports facilities and a large swimming pool. We eat lunch at the staff cafeteria and later some of the girls carry their purchases back to their apartments.

In the evening, six of us go to a little local restaurant for dinner. It is an unlikely looking place, no table cloths and seating for about twenty people, but David, the owner, is passionate about food.

We leave the choice of starters up to him and he comes back with three large platters, grilled aubergine, zucchini and asparagus and fresh mozzarella beautifully arranged on one and on another an assortment of diced fresh vegetables. The third has sweet melon and three kinds of ham.

David recommends beef cooked to his mother’s recipe and it arrives on another large platter with whipped potatoes and green beans. By this time we are struggling, but wait, there’s more! A dessert platter appears with several different kinds of dessert, so OK, we have to try, especially grandmother’s cake. We ask David if his grandmother shares the recipe and he starts to give it to us. But wait a moment – onions, celery? It’s the beef recipe. And what about the cake? 'Oh,' says David, 'I buy THAT in!' by this time it’s 1am and we stagger back to the apartment and bed.

Today we are ready to face another day of racing. The heat is back again, the wind looks steady and we are raring to go. The crowds are lining the side of the canal again and the blue of the flags is brighter than the blue of the sky. The race starts and we are looking good. And then that moment that could have been used in a Toyota ad.

I go to the press conference and am impressed with Grant Dalton fronting up and feel that with him there the team will not give in. We’ll be right behind them again tomorrow.