Athens 2004

The RYA's plans are already in full swing near the 2004 Olympic site

While many are still basking in the light of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the RYA now has its eyes firmly focused on the next Olympics in Athens.

Stephen Park, Olympic Squad Manager, has already made several trips to the new venue at Glyfadda, Athens, in order to give the British contenders the best chance of bettering their achievements at the next Olympic games.

The RYA has been making its presence felt in Glyfadda since February this year, when Park visited Athens for a preliminary look at what was available. While many other countries did not investigate until May, the RYA has already settled itself at the ENOA sailing centre 500 metres from the yet-to-be-built Olympic Marina in Glyfadda. "The notion behind the early visit was to be able to familiarise ourselves with the venue and not just the sailing," says Park.

Established more than 30 years ago ENOA is a watersports and social club that has facilities primarily for sailing, water polo and rowing, while Glyfadda has been described as one of the most westernised area of Athens, with The Body Shop, McDonalds and Pizza Hut accompanying other well known high street stores.

The RYA is already running a meteorological programme and has set up an anemometer at the site recording weather data. "Conditions during the summer months are hot, so there's high chances of thermally generated winds," said Park

The Saronic Gulf regatta has just taken place in Glyfadda and has proved a valuable opportunity for the British sailors to go and get a feel for the conditions. Dan Newman, 470 sailor with Graham Vials said that they were all caught off guard by some of the fluky conditions.

"The wind at the moment is supposed to be uncommon - heard that one before," commented Vials. "There is a strong gradient competing with a strong sea breeze coupled with very close mountains and the racing being close to the shore, obviously there is rhyme and reason to what's going on as several Greek boats who have never competed internationally are giving us seasoned pros a bit of a whopping."

The weather collection will be invaluable to the preparation and success of the team. It appears that there will not be a course rotation system in Glyfadda which will make it easier for the sailors to get to grips with strategy more quickly. Overall, the conditions encountered have come as a bit of a surprise. "It's not nearly as light as we all expected, though it has been when two breezes are fighting, when either is established it's been between 10/12 - 14/16 typically, with some gradient days reaching 20/22 knots," said Newman.

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