The morning soundtrack as the Laser Radial World Champs head for the first start guns.

Race Day 1 and the breeze looks interesting, and the less said about the drizzle the better....

"Raindrops keep falling on my head...." was this morning's opening soundtrack around the regatta site as the Laser Radial World Championships started taking to the water for the first day of racing. Two races are scheduled for both Women and Men. It will be a day to really put the slightly inclement overhead conditions to the back of the mind and focus on what could be a complex and difficult day. The morning breeze is around 11-14 knots from the SSE which is cross-offshore at the venue, blowing and swirling down off the hills at the back of Largs. And as anyone who has raced here before in an easterly or south easterly breeze it can be difficult with big changes in pressure and direction .
The forecast does look like it will swing to the west and even veer to the NW later in the day, and so if that happens it will keep it interesting for everyone. Mean wind speed over the day looks like about 7-8 knots and, the rain? It started as a typical Scots drizzle, has been proper rain and has tapered back to just damp. Or, as the local vernacular has it....'dreich'.
While last night's welcome was warm, this morning's has been a little chilly.
Finland's World Champion Sara Multala goes afloat looking to start the defence of the title she won last year in Japan, saying this morning:
" I was training here abut a week ago and went home and came back and let's just say the weather has not improved anything. Perparations went pretty well. I definitely can't wait to get going. My season has not been great, it has been a bit up and down, so I am really looking for my first really good result of the season here. I am excited. I will definitely be focussing this morning on keeping it simple, getting good starts and keeping my speed up and, of course, going the right way!"

9/7/2010 11:32