Bandeira Americana, or Where Does One Find an American Flag in Southern Portugal?

So ATT let us down and delivered Team Leader Jill's "Hey Blake, please pick up an American flag for the Opening Ceremonies on the way to the Mia airport ok?" the day after we arrived in Tavira.  No problem we thought, just go to the mall and buy a flag...

Nope!

After 3 hours and countless blank stares and even a few "why didn't you just bring one?" comments - gee, thanks for that! - Laurie finally tracked down a flag store 56 miles to the East.  At 150km/hr pretty easily done so...  Roadtrip!

Expecting to arrive at a commercial location, Laurie, Jill and Blake became more concerned as the route became more and more residential.  Rounding the last corner with the GPS saying "arriving at Lot Zero" we were a bit confused by the row of neat homes with no store in sight... until we spied a row of flags inside an open french door.  Success!

Jill, Laurie and Our Favorite Portugese Flagmaker

Thanks to our friend at Bandeira Algarve for saving us.  Now if we can just download the Star Spangled Banner from iTunes....

IODA European Champs Minisite: Results, Seedings and Tracking

The Official IODA minisite is up on the web for the event:

http://www.optiworld.org/MiniSite/trackingEuro.php

Live Race Tracking - see all the action online!

Good morning race fans!  Live tracking will be enabled at the European Champs with archived files so you can watch over and over... here's the link:  http://www.optiworld.org/MiniSite/trackingEuro.php

Good Luck TeamUSA OptiNAM in Los Angeles!

Good luck to our TeamUSA friends in Los Angeles as they get ready to launch for the first day of the Optimist North American Championship. Go get em!

Breeze is light here in Tavira this afternoon.  Back on the hard after an hour or so on course. 

More Images from Tavira

Tavira!

 Nighttime in Tavira: Ice Cream and the Symphony in the Plaza

 Roman Bridge

 Downtown Tavira

 Clube Nautico de Tavira

 This Billboard is all over town - Optiville, Portugal!

 The Diesel Rental Downhill with a Tailwind... Ian Late for Measurement!

Lisbon to Tavira - Beautiful

Pics from July 1 AM

Alex, Romain, Ian & Cooper

 Hi mom!

 Team Briefing

Romain and Ian's rides

July 1: Final Prep

Alex, Cooper, Ian and Romain are measured, registered and ready to go.  Breeze is light this morning with some haze with a forecast for 12 kts.  After sailing with New Zealand and Austria yesterday Coach Juan has arranged for practice with Singapore this afternoon to ramp up for the practice race tomorrow.

Current is more of an issue that we expected here in Tavira, but once the breeze stabilizes midday it's a matter of getting off the line and nailing the first shift... sailing 101 right?

Pics to come later today.

Thanks for checking in... standing by in Tavira.