Things are starting to happen at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo del Mar Menor “Infanta Cristina”, or FVRM for short. Sailors arriving, boats being assembled and readied, modifications being carried out, and much, much talking with old friends last seen a year ago, or with new guys just entering this friendly class and all under the hot Spanish sun, with it's frequent interruptions caused by the Spanish Airforce training it's next generation of fighter pilots at the very nearby San-Javier air base. The place is pretty idillic really. The boat park is withing the compound of the sports training centre and many boats are parked under the trees for added shade, but an increased Guano risk in the words of Ex President Charles Beuche.
Boats started to go out in the afternoon as the sea breeze switched on. Nothing excessive today, 10-12 kts maybe, but nice and steady with nothing to upset anything. Bath warm water made for even pleasanter times. A few buoys were set up, including a dummy top gate to give practice of the rounding to starboard option in the newly instigated top gate course changes. This is for one year, and will be adopted following a vote upon its completion in 2 major championships.
The Mar Menor is a big area and boats quickly disappear with their training partners, as they go off in search of a potential better breeze only to suddenly reappear unexpectedly at the Downwind area. Of course, those who went out later found a nice up-kick in the wind at about 6pm.
Tomorrow will be rinse and repeat as more will arrive and more go out training.
