PHILOSOPHY OF A RACING YACHTIE

by Peter Canham "Seamist"  (a non-racing yachtie)

                                           
© Peter Canham - Aug 1993

A Racing Yachtie 'tis what I am,

I've sea-water in my veins.
I'll race this yacht thru thick and thin,

Heedless of fiscal strains.

I'll push this boat for all it's got,

It can handle the abusing.
And I don't really give a damn,

'Coz it's not my boat I'm using.

We've got to get her ready though,

To handle extra pace.
Remove all useless items,

To, at all costs, win this race.

Removed the stove, the cushions too,

We've even pulled the bed.
And now we have a bucket,

To replace that heavy head.

And what's all this fresh water?

Our weight's just on the brink.
We've got an esky full of beer,

So we've got enough to drink.

Race day is here - we're with the fleet,

I feel this race is mine.
As we slowly edge up through the crowd,

Towards the starting line.

Genoa and Main are sheeted in,

As I hear the starters gun.
And a little voice inside my head,

Tells me I've got it won.

I've often heard that best laid plans,

Do often go astray.
But I'd not believe the race 'd go,

The way it went today.

We lost the mast - the kite's in shreds,

And then we had some grief.
When we tore the hull wide open,

Aground upon a reef.

This yacht is smashed and broken,

And this time I'm the loser.
But I can say with my head held high,

AT LEAST I'M NOT A CRUISER.