Well,

Hi all, apologises on taking so long to generate an update on events so far, (and apologises for those that didn't get it) truth is I have been avoiding writing this email as I wasn't quite ready to face the 'horror' that unfolded last weekend so I have been putting it off a bit. However I've slapped myself around a couple of times, done a bit of talking and mumbling to myself and I think I can finally confront and deal with the past. Reading that back you'd think I'd lost a limb climbing Mount Everest or something but nothing so dramatic I'm afraid instead we just lost a rowing race. To be fair it was the first race we've lost in a year and what a way to lose, first live televised coverage back home, first final back as world champions and we finished a distant 5th, not exactly the stellar start I was hoping for, so I guess the next question is what happened?

In the race itself we never got any rhythm going, we tried to be powerful out of the start but once we tried to push for a race beat, the boat just felt heavy and unresponsive and rets of the field just seemed to move away. In an effort ('effort' could easily be replaced with the word 'panic') to keep up, we ended up rowing about 3/4 slide and about 41 rating (even at the 1000) not a good look or feeling. There was nothing really we could have done in the race itself that would have made much difference to the end result.

Of probably more relevance and impact is the difficulties we had during the build up. The week we had in Poland in preparation did not go particularly well, the boat we sent over that had felt ok back in New Zealand (bar a couple of niggles) felt bloody awful over here. It was very unbalanced and very difficult to get any work on. So we went over the boat with a fine tooth comb, checking heights, adjusting seats, making sure the oars where right, measuring things of the water, we even replaced our keel, all in an effort to get the boat feeling half way decent. Unfortunately nothing seemed to have the desired effect in the end we probably messed with it so much that we lost completely any idea of what a good boat is supposed to be like. It's an incredibly frustrating feeling knowing something isn't right and not being able to figure out what it is.

Since last weekend, we've rejigged the boat a bit more, and it seems to be feeling a bit more like it should, John Robbo has been doing alot of remedial work, rowing in circles and lots of video analysis. it has helped, we rowing with more length and the balance and boat speed seems to be where it should be. There is still alot of room to go, which is good in a way, we know we have the capability to go fast and we know how to work hard to get it so fingers crossed that will be enough.

We have one more week in Poland then we head to Lucerne for the last World Cup. No Auzzies for us this time, but the Serbian pair that won the first world cup and got second in Poland will be there so plenty of good crews to race and see if we have actually made an improvement. I'm pretty confident that we will be competitive we've had more time in the boat, more time training in the heat, the bodies have adjusted to the time change and to be frank, we are both extremely dark about a dirty 5th sullying our good name.

Rest assured we will be out for blood. I should mention for those that don't know, some New Zealand crews have been kicking butt. Mahe is practically flying, the British guy had a good tilt at him in the final getting 2 or 3 seconds ahead out the start but Mahe pulled him in the second 500 metres and went on to win by a good length of clear water. The twins also had a good win, though the were the only ones on the dais as the auzzies and belarussians who got 2nd and 3rd had to head off for a 2nd race. The mens four had their first dais finish since 1999 finishing 3rd, they looked pretty strong and moving well when they went past me and while the British crew was looking very good, I'm sure the kiwi boys will be in the fight no matter who turns up to race them.

Haere ra,

Nathan