Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Tokyo2020 - Day 1 Preview - Enjoy it while you can

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 24 Jul 2021 23:56 BST 25 July 2021
Final practice ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics © World Sailing

The opening day of the Tokyo2020 Olympic sailing regatta will get underway in light winds, after the fresher overnight conditions are expected to moderate later today.

However today is forecast to the last of the fluffy weather, with the wind predicted to swing south this afternoon, before going back to the NE and increasing to 14kts gusting 17kts, overnight.

Predictwind is forecasting those conditions will prevail for the rest of the week - through to Saturday, with tomorrow Monday at 8-17kts in the morning and 9-11kts in the afternoon, being at the lighter end of the range for the week.

The drive down on the bus was uneventful, but when able to see Sagami Bay it was clear the Wind God had gone elsewhere - glassy as, with a faintest puff of breeze just visible in small patches.

At the Main Gate there was a lot of fast talking going on, as the entering media were subject to yet another round of "Computer says No" - this in the shape of a new Venue Booking system - where media have to book their chosen venue at least a day in advance.

That of course assumes that you can log-in to yet another system (four so far) with all the right logins, passwords, and authentication codes.

In such situations it is always a basic move is to consider what the late Bob Fisher (who should need no introduction to sailing fans) would have done faced with such a challenge - the sort that seemed to make his day, and provide a story on his favorite subject of bureaucratic incompetence.

First option is to have a major blow-up and see if the front-desk and their beloved computer retreats. But here that is a very, very last resort.

Second option is to find someone you know, that speaks Japanese and see if that works. As Bob knew so many people, Option 2 was usually a decision that was made for him. Usually they were already there and awaiting his summons.

Long story short, after a lot of fast talking the various media photographers were admitted - with top international photographer Soehata-san saving the day for me.

Weird as it may seem some of us are here to try and cover the sailing, rather than battle with computer systems, as has been the case for the past two months.

But we, the foreign media, certainly get put through the hoops.

From what we have been able to see of the past few days, light winds have been the staple diet, and in the media centre we are warned to expect more of the same, and no rush to get on the water.

Yesterday our walkabout revealed there was more wind than today. This is very much an ocean venue - with a long lolloping swell raising the boats that were out training, but with a steady trickle of wind being barely enough to trapeze.

Today looks to be less of the same.

Related Articles

America's Cup Power Plays
And Growing Sailing Through Learning There's always so much speculation and intrigue in-between each edition of the America's Cup. Everyone wants to know what is happening behind closed doors, inside the teams, and when the Challengers meet with the Defender. Posted today at 5:00 pm
Hyde Sails Flying Fifteen Video Tuning Guide
Ben McGrane explains how to get the most out of your B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs Hyde Sails release new detailed video guide for tuning the Flying 15 for use with the B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs. Posted on 22 May
The appeal of offshore
Is there still appeal? Have we made it too onerous? Why would someone take it up now? I had been pondering. Yes. Marquee events have no issue attracting entrants. Middle Sea, Transpac, Cape to Rio, Fastnet, and Hobart all spring to mind instantly, but what of the ‘lesser' races? Lots of boats in pens (slips) a lot of the time Posted on 18 May
X 195 'Turtle' Launch
The first new X One Design in 18 years! I attended a rare event in the X One Design class: the launch of a new boat. It has been 18 years since the last new X was launched, and X195 has been a project that long in the making. Posted on 17 May
Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May
Exposure Marine Fastnet Race Kit Video Review
A set of 3 torches specifically designed for offshore racing crews It's a huge year for offshore sailing, and arguably the biggest event of the summer is the Rolex Fastnet Race. Within an hour of entries opening the Royal Ocean Racing Club had received a record 435 yacht registrations. Posted on 14 May
How Seldén Carbon Masts are made
I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood to find out more I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood from Seldén to find out a bit more about how the carbon tow reels become the masts that we use when out sailing. Posted on 12 May
For the love of slightly larger, even faster boats
Bring it on. No chicken chutes allowed. Celestial, the newest Cape 31 in Oz is up and racing Thank you. You have let For the love of small, fast boats run before the breeze like a superlight planning hull under way too big a kite, with immense sheep in the paddock, and the Sailing Master grasping the flare gun in his pocket... No chicken chutes. Posted on 4 May
The Allure of Timber
The longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood In these days of exotic materials, high modulus carbon and ultra lightweight construction, it's possible to overlook the longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood. Posted on 29 Apr
A look inside the Spirit Yachts yard
A close look at what makes their yachts unique Traditional skills in boatbuilding could be regarded as a lost art from a bygone era. In the world of fibreglass and carbon, the joinery and laminating techniques of wood ribs and cedar strips are a thing of the past. Posted on 28 Apr