After the events of this past weekend, the Can Opener and I are now firm believers in ‘cruising’ regattas.
We arrived on the Friday at the host clubhouse (the Rompin’ Yowlers Squadroon) for relaxed evening drinks to open the festivities with our fellow participants. A jovial team-building dinner followed, a delightful ship-board sleep, and early next morning, away we sailed to the designated round up point.
In fact, the Saturday ‘race’ was more of a stroll round the cans in company. More than one helmsman had one hand on the wheel while the other brandished a streaming cup of tea.
We anchored en mass for a leisurely 2 hour lunch, and then pulled up anchor to round the cans again in the afternoon with renewed vigor and topped up tea mugs.
Very civilized.
On the first leg, the Can Opener had been non-plussed and seemed determined to press his racing luffing rights – as one normally does. But the cheerful lift of the next yacht’s tea mug and an ‘After yooou, dear boy…’ confirmed our growing suspicion that an entirely new and intriguing game was afoot.
‘Not at all, after you, dear Sir,’ I replied.
The Can Opener grinned a sheepish grin, handed the helm back to me, and trotted down to the galley to make up steaming cups of brew for our own dear team.
We are liking this take on the cruising life.
–Captain Cat
(transcribed by the Can Opener)
The Cruising Kitty 