Although the last few months have been quiet for regattas, the Murka 49er team has never been busier. Sailing full time has long been Tom and Richards dream, they are now fulfilling that dream, but admit that it is a tough lifestyle.

Swapping the frustration of the unpredictable winter weather in England for the warm waters of the Bahamas, they are currently doing 3 weeks training on Grand Bahama Island, the venue for the 2010 World Championships.

”We have had fantastic conditions here” Richard commented, ”we were becoming really frustrated in the UK, we had the boats, we had the training partners, we had spent hours in the gym, but we could not get a break in the weather. This period in Freeport has been the most productive sailing we have done, we have been on the water every day, pushing as hard as we can. I am absolutely shattered now and looking forward to going home for Christmas. I am also looking forward to the Murka team party where I hope to meet the Murka equestrian riders.”

The teams that were training out there organized a Regatta half way through the training to allow everyone to gauge their progress. There were only 4 boats missing from the top 25 finishers at the previous worlds so the standard was very high and the racing was tight. Tom and Richard finished the event in 20th, a pretty good result considering the first day their rudder failed meaning they did not compete in two races.

“After two weeks training I feel we are totally ready for the worlds.” Tom said, “The boat is in race-winning condition and judging from our results on the last two days of the practice regatta, we will certainly achieve our top 16 goal in January”.

Team Murka had their last days training today, before packing up the boats up for Christmas at home. Richard and Tom return to the Bahamas on December the 28th for a few more days training before the start to their world championships on the 4th January 2010.