The relevance of the Gold Cup is always in question. Don't get me wrong, I like the diversity of the event and think there should be more of it in rowing in general. And there is, HOTP, Iron Cove Classics, HOTY, HOTS. All good fun and a challenge. But in a world where sport is pre-packaged, sanitised, regulated and packaged into a clean 2000m event, the timing and relevance of the Gold Cup is a pain for the GPS crews. None of them really want to do it but the weight of 130 odd years weighs on their better selves and they make it the great 'picnic' regatta event that it is. On the up side, the Men's Open 8+ was a quality field for a change but that's where it should be focused, in club land. It's back to a inconvenient time for the GPS - A week or so before the big one. As an indicator of form, it shows very little except for a how to survive dreadful conditions. Crabs, lost oars, bump racing, collisions with markers, monstrous surf, howling wind - Red Bull should sponsor it and really jazz it up, Newington are showing a lot improvement, SBHS in the 2nd 8(?) did well - and of course Jennings baled out of the MO8 as expected - KT, after swanning in front of the PLC girls at least made the blue kitty kats row regardless. One of the worst memories was always rowing back home after the GC. Now it's over, everyone is relieved for another year.