Two Kiwi Grandmasters with wives in tow
Off to the 2003 Master Worlds did go
A European tour was carefully planned
Shopping when the Masters weren't sailing was banned.

Our first port of call was the French Riviera at Nice
Where we collected our station-wagon Peugeot Lease
Our mission was to collect 2 lasers from Milan
No problem to Kiwis -"of course we can"

North we sped on the Autostrada
Admiring the countryside that nurtured Team Prada
Through mountains via tunnels of great engineering skill
Past picturesque villages nestled in valleys and hills
Fairytale church steeples overlooked each quaint scene
Here for hundreds of years these villages have been

On approaching Milan we missed a crucial exit
And after half an hour knew we were right in the sh…t
Befuddled by Toll Gates and no idea where to go
We were tooted and waved at and called "Bastardos"

At last we found the address to pick up our load
But by now had been almost 6 hours on the road
Alas,the old towbar did not fit our new steed
Of a bloody great miracle we were in dire need

But with Kiwi ingenuity and some Italian flair
Both lasers and trollies were hoisted up in the air
Snugly they fit on the Peugeot's strong roof
She'll be right mate -100% fool proof

After Italian hospitality, good food and great wine
Next morning we set off back down the line
We finally got the tollgate system well sussed
But because of our height we were charged as a truck

Back through Monaco, Nice, St Raphael
We were making good time our load travelling well

In Provence Sue had planned to see Lavender Fields
But this was given "no go" by the insensitive males
Bob dreamed of Bardot look-alikes at St Tropez
But the team voted him out and ruined his day.

We moved down to the South and the Camargue Salt marsh
The countryside vast and the sun and heat harsh
Sturdy Camargue horses and black bulls of great might
Bred here by the hundreds for Spanish bull fights

A night on a house boat was like a wonderful dream
And the seafood we ate complemented the scene
Our French hosts were delightful and over aperitifs
We teased that the All Blacks would give the French Coqs some grief

Off on Day 3 with our plan to leave France
And enter the country of Flamenco Dance
The Pyrenees to the right, Costa Brava to the left
At driving on the wrong side we were becoming quite deft.

Until we reached Barcelona - that bloody ring road
We missed it again and yelled Bastardos!
A glimpse of the cathedral that a Kiwi is mending
As down tiny cobbled streets our way we were wending

Back on the big road now called Autopista
We were enthralled with the beauty of Spain's coastal vista
Down through Valencia, Alicante and small towns
Weary by dark we stopped to put our heads down

Next day we planned for just a short drive
The weather was still perfect, with cloudless blue skies
Through plantations of orange and olive groves
Roman ruins, and Moorish castles we did rove

Down the Costa de Sol with its "pueblo blancos"
Acres of undercover horticulture, just rows upon rows
Windfarms for miles flanked the long coastal drive
All was so dry - how does anything thrive?

A great afternoon at Gibraltar- "The Rock"
Three countries to be seen from right at the top
Then off to Tarifa, Spain's windsurfing scene
The sand dunes and white beaches, windswept and pristine

Next day to Rota to unload our cargo
Then back to Tarifa for next day Morocco.
Morocco was vibrant and our guide he was "hot"
The masters hated the shopping and thought our "hot" guide was NOT!

We got to the World's venue all safe and sound
And our hotel was quite close and easily found
The girls settled in - great accommodation
And the boys began pre-race preparation
Touring on hold while the boys did their regatta
The girls were quite happy to shop, shop. shop, and chatter

The regatta went well till the weather regressed
But light air sailors and fly weights were blessed
Kiwis, Aussies and Yapis prayed desperately for breeze
But Hughey was simply in no mood to please

A great many countries as usual were here
Swapping dubious masters' stories and drinking Sangria
The social functions were fun and friendships were enriched
Even with Aussies who live just over the ditch
Thank you to Jeff for another great Worlds
But I also want specially to thank the ILCA girls

To meet up with Judith was just such a buzz
And I could thank her in person for all that she does.
For 7 years we have emailed re all laser stuff
She is always so helpful, never off-hand or gruff.
To the other girls I also offer my thanks
Jeff's lucky he has such skill in his ranks.

We packed up and moved on to finish our trip
Never tiring of the new experiences of it
Four days in Portugal via Seville
Olives, tapas and seafood we all had our fill
Now we are home after 21 days abroad
Clean out of money - nothing we can afford

We enjoyed all Europe offered us during our great holiday
To Cadiz, and great memories Hip Hip Ole!!!