SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT TIME AT THE GLOBE WCT FIJI

News provided by ASP World Tour on 28 May 2005

AFTER proceedings were halted early yesterday afternoon at the end of round one due to marginal conditions, we’re back to work this morning with both swell and wind on the improve. It’s time for the crucial second round of the Globe WCT Fiji, what the boys on tour regard as the most gnarly day of any event. A loss today means you’ve wasted the opportunities on offer at the fourth fixture of the Foster’s Men’s World Tour. You’re banking a 33rd, otherwise known as a ‘dirty turd’. It’s a throwaway result, an anchor to your aspirations. Today it’s time to shape up or ship out!

Globe’s Contest Director Steve Robertson motored over from Tavarua in the darkness this morning reporting that Restaurants was definitely bigger than yesterday, presumably meaning that the swell has more west in it, as well as a heightened pulse. The boats from Tavarua and Namotu, loaded as always with Bure One’s Occy, Egan and Hog, as well as Fanning and Dingo, then motored off towards the south-eastern horizon in anticipation of finding Cloudbreak doing its thing.

Shortly thereafter, the pre-dawn raiders reported five foot waves out at Cloudbreak, and so we’re up and aiming for an 8.30am start. It was quite windy at 5am but, as predicted by the crew at Surfline.com, the wind has progressively subsided since then. We’re trusting that their parallel prediction of the swell rising all day will prove accurate as well. Either way, we’re on!

(P.S…It’s 7.39am now, and Occy has just sat down for breakfast on Namotu after the early’. We became aware of his presence when a shrill ‘Arrgghhh!’ pierced the air. He’d just picked up a set of hot tongs whilst serving himself an egg, baked beans, bacon and a hash brown. Anyway…the Ockster reports it’s now six foot, and pretty good. Hey ho, let’s go!!!)