2008-08-29 Paralympic Games!
Due to a crashed computer, lack of money and time we are not able to keep our website updated during the Paralympics. Here are some some useful links;
http://www.sailing2008.org/en/
http://www.sailing.org/paralympics
http://www.sailing.org/ifds.php
gfresk.blogspot.com
gutant677.blogspot.com

2008-05-16 中国
Our team has decided to try and do something for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. Putting money on the China Charity Federation, Account no: 00914908091014. Bank: Headquater of China Bank (-no 1. Fuxingmennei Avenue, Beijing), Swift: BKCHCNBJ, is a small and symbolic attempt to do something. We encourage everyone to add a straw to the hay stack.

2008-05-15 Qingdao
Last day of racing, only one race today. The conditions were lumpy seas and a strong current in the same direction as the wind. After a failed attempt to make another port start we had to cross behind all the other boats. Again we went left with most others going right and the left hand side paid again! We rounded the windward mark in second and after several close encounters with GBR in the lead we ended up second at this last race, worst start best finish! Overall results can be found on the official web site. Congratulations GBR!

2008-05-14 Qingdao
In the first race of today we managed to pull through a port start in front of all the other Skuds, and held on to our lead until the gennaker was cought in the water, half way around the course, and five boats passed us. In the next race we went far left in search for a left hand shift and more wind wich finally came and we got a huge lead at the top mark. A lead that we managed to hold until the last downwind leg when we failed to cover some boats and were quickly passed while stuck, grumping, on the wrong side of the course. We ended up fourth in the race but were quite happy anyway to have had two really good first halves of todays races. Our learning curve is pointing in the right direction!

2008-05-13 Qingdao
Today news about the big earthquake in Sichuan province reached us and the numbers of victims are constantly growing. It feels strange to be enjoying the extreme hospitality of the Chinese people and living in luxuru here in the sheltered Olympic village, while China is struck by such a catastrophy.

2008-05-12 Qingdao
The winds were strong this morning, gusting up to 12 m/s. We had a great run on the way out, planing with the gennaker. But in the middle of a gybe, Birgittas seat suddenly broke with her ending up on the leeward side, unable to work the tilting function. We had to go back to shore without even starting todays racing. Our super-fixer, coach Gunnar, found a local welder who helped to fix the seat immediately!

2008-05-11 Qingdao
First day of racing. Good wind from southeast with a noticable current from northwest. We are trying to find our routines from Miami, we have not been able to train much since Florida, due to the cold weather in Sweden. Our result was sixth in the first race, which the Chinese team won, and fourth in the second race, which USA won.

2008-05-10 Qingdao
Sun, our team guide, makes our life in the Olympic village go smooth. Out on the water again! Here on the east coast of China, 600 kilometres south-east of Being, the sailing conditions are quite different from the ones we are used to in Sweden. The currents are strong and the waves are significant and irregular.
Birgittas new motorised seat makes a big difference and gives her much better support than the old one.

2008-05-08 Qingdao
We are the first ones to use the new hotel in the Olympic village. A fiive star luxury hotel that makes us feel quite spoiled.

2008-05-07 Qingdao
The Qingdao International Regatta is being held at the Paralympic/Olympic site in Qingdao. We have arrived safely and so has the boat we are going to use here. The Australians brought "007", which is the manufacturer boat, for us since we brought our second boat to Miami that they used there.

2008-02-04 Making Progress
Another perfect day on Biscane Bay. Our training is already showing lots of improvement and we are constantly getting boat handling manouvers to work better. Birgitta has left the introduction level and is now starting to dig into the world of competitive racing, in all aspects. The gennaker keeps Birgitta busy.

2008-02-03 AUS-SWE
One more week of training to go. The Australian team is still here for two more days, most of the others have left after the price ceremoni last night.