So when not out on the water, we are working madly on the hull of the boat we plan to use at the Olympics.

We have rented some space in a boat factory in Qingdao and have three boats here at the moment. The boat we’re likely to use at the Olympics is receiving quite a bit of TLC courtesy of two boat-builders we have brought over from Sydney - Mark and Chris. They have been a great help so far, as have the team at the factory.

It’s all systems go here!

Back in Qingdao, China for another couple of weeks of training and preparation on the Olympic course.

You could almost be forgiven for thinking I’d changed from a water-based sport and moved into track and field – the surface of the course in Qingdao is covered with some sort of green spongy algae!

You can see in this picture below, the surface almost looks like a bowling green…it certainly makes for interesting sailing!