Saturday evening. Today has been a wonderful day which fulfilled all its promise. The games are well under weigh and all the terms that should have done wellhave done well and are in the A finalsand there is very little to choose between them so it should be a great final Aus. NZ France Canada England Wales Luxemburg. For my part I took myself off to Sydney again. This time I have twigged that I can buy an old farts all day go anywhere ticket for $2.50. ( just over £1) Bus into Sydney (got off at the right stop this time)short walk to Circular Quay and catch ferryto what is,I am told, the nearest quay to where Iam aiming - the Sydney Flying Squadron - nothing to do with flying but boats. It is the home of the Traditional Sydney Harbour 18 footer Sciffs - all replicas of the old boats - not the modern highly sponsored modern versions. Trouble is I have been given some bum info and so Hackers has a long walk to the Squadron but at least I am seeing plenty of the area - even the Luna Park fun fair but i didn't fancy a ride. The Squadron has a nice clubhouse with first floor bar and restaurant and balcony overlooking the water. On the lawn beside the building there are 7 sciffs getting rigged ready for launching. Igot chatting to one of the crews and asked them if it would be possible to bum a ride on one of the support boats. No problem mate, buy a ticket at the bar for a place on the ferry that will be following the race. So off to the bar for an old farts ticket for a few dollars, four bottles of beer (to keep up the liquids of course) and a bag of chips (bit of a come down after the oysters yesterday but one has to slum it now and again). The ferry is one of the old wooden double deckers like the one we were on the other night and i stood in the bow with a perfect view of the proceedings. the harbour is teaming with sailing boats from the lowly fleet of 40 lasers to a lesser fleet of Maxis - What a spectacle! Its all so well organised. there are two knowledgable commentators on board and I get a chance to chat with one of them (Paul) while his mate is doing the talking. Also meet a very friendly member of the club (Craig) who mademefeel very much at homeand insisted when I said goodbye that Ishould take his beerglass cooler jacket as a momento. The race was a persuit race lasting about two and half hours in wonderful sunny conditions and a 12 knot breeze and 1 knot of tide. The crew Ihad chatted to before the race and who had told me that Ishouldn't put my money on themcame second. After the race I managed to have another chat with them. The helmsman is John Toon (same name as a rugby chum at home) and it would seem that my luck is in. He has invited me to joinhis crew for tomorrows race - 'Er indoorspermitting. WOW! Ever since the days when ,as a tenager, I used to sail 18 foot nationals at Bosham I have always wonderedwhat it would be like to sail a Sydney Harbour 18. It will mean missing the finals of the IMGA World Championships but she'sgiven me a pink ticket. And so to bed - very excited. There will be lots to tell next timebut not sure when I will next be able to get on line as we fly up to Surfers Paradise on Monday.