A day in the life of Mike Nelson at the 2001 Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour

Saipan, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, last day of competition

7:00 room mate Klaus wakes up "I'm going to breakfast and then down to organise the team!" trust a German to be in charge of the organisation. Mumble "that's nice mate", roll over and try to go back to sleep.

8:00 can't sleep after being woken up earlier, go join the English TV crew for breakfast. "what do you want me to do today guys?" "its fine Mike, we're not really interested in you at the moment." damn those English. Fight off Jimmy and Roberto to get the computer and check my e-mail.

9:30 head down to the rigging area and catch up with fellow Aussie Robby. He tells me about last night. I don't want to hear it but somehow I can't walk away. He scored with a forty year old "masseuse". Jeffro is running around pumped up to move from second overall to first in his division. Go for it buddy!

11:00 first race. Start OK and keep up with leading pack until I fall off. Bugger - I'm not supposed to do that. Could've been a champion. Battle it out with three Japanese on identical kit for the rest of the race.

12:00 walk to shops for lunch with Roberto. Phil and Matt arrive by car - I guess that's the difference between amateur and pro. "Robby slept with a forty year old!." We all laugh and shake our heads. They give us a lift back.

1:00 second race. Start OK again and move from fourth to third early for first lap. Move back to fourth mid way through second lap and then back to third. Flying down wind with a 9.9m and 15 knots. Look around and Antoine and Matt are so close I can see how pissedd they look. Stuff up last mark rounding, and the two of them plus a sneaky Robby pass me. Limp home a dejected man just ahead of Kevin. What the hell is he doing back here? He must be really pissed!

2:00 get back to beach "I beat Kevin!" I tell everybody, but I avoid Kevin.

3:00 most of gear packed up - go to the plaza with Roberto, Klaus and Antoine. They start speaking together in French or some verbal diarrhoea language. Bloody euro's.

6:00 head to presentation. Jeffro comes second "you useless Yank!" "where did you come in your division Mike?" "shut up 'fro"

9:00 local bar for drinks. Sit down with a table of Japanese girls sipping on Tequila slammers. I join in but can't keep up. They're half my size damn it!

11:00 keep challenging at the pool table, determined to win, not going to give up

12:00 give up on trying to win pool.

1:30 Japanese girls get chaperoned away. I can finally stop drinking.

2:00 stumbling back through lobby with Jimmy, meet girls. Jimmy wants to show them the beach. I'm not keen, I want to sleep. "OK, that's the beach, lets go!" Turn around and Jimmy's disappeared with one of the girls. Sit and chat with the remaining girl, hear splash, Jimmy fell in the pool. Girls go home, I help Jimmy to his room.

2:30 Klaus already asleep, ready for an early start - bloody German.