Michael Blackburn's Olympic Final Update

Thanks for all the congratulations for my 2nd place at the Worlds. It ended up being quite a physically tough regatta I guess the Laser worlds often are - with 2 races a day for 7 days we usually had 6 hours on the water each day. Although, I did have the benefit of a coach who was keen to go sailing - Erik sailed my boat the 3-4 miles in each day while I made a quick trip in the power boat. By the time he hit the shore, I was showered and changed and I'm sure a lot fresher toward the end of the regatta than I would otherwise have been. However, I only managed to stay up to midnight to celebrate on the last night - too tired and not used to a late one at all!

Brazilian Robert Scheidt, 27, won his 4th Worlds at this regatta, a record. He said at the presentation this was his 11th Worlds and possibly his last in the Laser. I've done 7, so with him gone, maybe I can win the next 4?

Anyway, I think it was certainly a good result to achieve at this stage. I was going as fast as ever and luckily the niggling injuries I've had stayed away.

Cancun was a great place to stage the worlds with warm weather and water. However, the place is mainly an American resort town - so to find a little of the real Mexico before the regatta we went to a site of Mayan ruins (built by the early Mexicans) - we saw a lot of very old stone buildings (800-1200AD). Some had large circular stone pillars which had supported a roof. I thought they looked like the pillars you'd find on ancient Greek buildings. Feeling the Olympic symbolism, we quickly de-robed and mounted these pillars for a unique photo opportunity as ancient Olympic discus and javelin throwers!

Now I have a week or so off sailing. Then, I have another 6 weeks here for a good period of training and one regatta at Easter before heading to Holland, Denmark and Germany for 6 weeks of the European circuit. My progress is looking fine and thanks again for the good wishes.

Michael