23-05-2007- For a couple of days it was quiet, but today we started of with a board meeting that had to be postponed because not all members were not properly informed.
We also started broadcasting live on Bridge Base Online today. Curacao Guadeloupe was brought live, but on the internet a lot more boards were claimed then in reality was the case. The operators had never done this before, but okay that is why we were testing.
Worse was that on of the power cables turned out to the wrong type. Of course I switched the cable immediately, leaving the press room without power for at least 20 minutes with a alarm beeping back up device and a printer without power which was not really appreciated by Daily Bulletin editor Jan van Cleeff :-)
We were lucky that the World Trade Center has a repair department with all kinds of electrical stuff, wide open doors and never a repair man in sight...

20-05-2007 - Speaking of the devil....
Today two players arrived on the airport and the transfer was not there. On the 'regular' arrival dates we had someone from the CBF on the airport to check if everything was in order. But he was now playing in the Open pairs.
The ladies from Trinidad took a taxi, but there was Murphy's Law: the native driver, not used to English with a French accent understood that the ladies wanted to go to the Marriott Hotel instead of the Clarion. That is not so strange for the Marriott is of course a very well known hotel, but the Clarion is not, because the Hotel is rather new to the island.
Imagine yourself after a long flight, tired, debating for a long time with the personnel of the Marriott that you have made reservations and they just can not find it. Sounds funny from a distance, but who would not be angry standing there at the desk? I know I would. And I know I would explode finding out finally that I was brought to the wrong hotel and I had to take another taxi to the Clarion.
Starting a tournament with stress is most certainly not good. So we decided to wash away this unpleasant experience with something relaxing: a free visit to World Champion Hairdresser John John.
And John John is located.... in the Marriott Hotel. We are sure that the ladies know where to find it :-) But we do hope their second 'stay' at the Marriott will be the better one!

19-05-2007 - So far nothing much went wrong. There were a few flights delayed or cancelled and some players missed their connection flights, but there is nothing we can do about that.
The start of the tournament was kind of hectic. There were no personal score sheets for instance and we ran out of pencils. Felicity was a little bit stressed for the pairs list was late and with errors.
But these sort of things take place behind the curtains.

We think all went rather smooth so far. The transfers at the airport went well. People seem to be happy with the trolley (shuttle service).

But.....if something is not in order we would like to hear it from you.
If you have a complaint please do not hesitate to tell us. We solved a billion problems in the last couple of months. So your complaint might be a problem we can solve for you in no time!

Just contact someone from the CBF at the tournament or email harro@tropicalbridge.com