Well, we are done. We finished 14th overall, which was not what we wanted, but that’s Star sailing for you I guess.

We’re packing everything up now – sails, jibs, spare parts etc etc - into the shipping container before heading home via the closing ceremony in Beijing.

The whole sailing team is flying to Hamilton Island the day after we get home to catch the end of Race Week up there. It will be nice to get home, and soon enough I will be back into the swing of work and home life.

Thanks to all my friends and family for your support and well wishes throughout this Olympic experience!

A frustrating first day of racing here as we went out, came in and then went out again to race at 4pm. We finally started a race in light breeze, and all was going well as we were placed in the top few boats. Then the breeze died and swung 80 degrees to the left and hung the leading group out to dry. So we placed 11th.

Following that we had a couple of very tough days on the water here with fickle winds making for tough sailing. In Race 4 we unfortunately broke our mast on the way to the finish whilst coming 6th, which meant drifting over 2nd last with the mast in the water!

Followed that race up with a very respectable 2nd though…maybe it was the spare mast!

My wife and daughters are having a great time over here in Qingdao, and it’s been good to have them here as my noisy Aussie cheer squad!

Wednesday went past quickly in the measurement tent. We were there till 3pm. Had to make a minor adjustment to the front of the keel which took an hour of boatbuilding. I just can’t get away from it!

Yesterday was to be our practice race but there has been little wind. We sailed for a couple of hours to check our boat and sails, but I think we were the only crew to venture onto the water.

Everyone who was meant to sail yesterday was pushed back to today, so it will be crowded out there!Stronger breezes are forecast for the next 3 days though...stay tuned.

We sailed again yesterday against the Irish, Germans, Chinese and French. All seems to be going well - we used our spare mast to make sure it was OK and then in the afternoon sanded and polished the keel again.

No sailing today, as we are measuring up. After that we’ll assemble the boat back together again, and then do all our final checks, which will take most of the day. We’ll sail tomorrow morning to make sure everything is alright, but don’t plan to sail in the practise race.

We start racing on Friday, with two afternoon races per day for three days straight, then there’s a reserve day, followed by two more days of racing, followed by the Medal Race.

I returned from Beijing on Sunday night after a great couple of days there with my wife and three daughters.The opening ceremony and the time in the main village was unbelievable.

The day after the ceremony was a family trip to visit the Great Wall of China. It is just not believable unless you see it! I am amazed at how they even built the short part we saw on top of these huge hills, let alone thousands of kilometres …just incredible.

We were back into it yesterday with 3hours of short course racing against the UK, Ireland, Germany and France. We plan to do the same today and then measure the boat on the 13th.

The Aussie team is going very well - smiles all round!

The weekend just gone has been great!

We sailed every day, enjoying great weather - clear skies and nice light breezes. We have been doing a bit of training with the English and Americans on short course racing, which has been going well. Both Dog and (coach) Euan are well and we are all ready to get into the racing – just 11 sleeps away now.

My wife and three daughters arrive in a few days – it will be good to see them before I head to Beijing for the Opening Ceremony, which Dog and I plan to attend…what an experience!