Race start

It can get quite crowded on the line at a race start. Much better weather today - sunshine and a little bit of wind that allowed the yachts to get some speed up. There's a small beach by the fortress where the Extreme 40s stand is situated, nice to see families sunbathing, making sandcastles, having ice creams and generally relaxing while all the racing is going on.

I was talking to the guys at SAP, the software company, who do the graphics. Sail racing can be a bit confusing for spectators but they have perfected the graphics now so that you can see exactly what's happening alongside TV streaming online. They also do the tennis at Wimbledon - the stuff where you can see where every ball has landed in the court. Must chat to Gill when I can as she went today (or yesterday now, I haven't got used to the three-hour time difference between London and St Petersburg). I hear it rained! Sunny here, Gill!

One great bit about this sport is that spectators can have rides on the boats during races. The chap here in the red is a spectator. I notice he's keeping his head down.