16.7.10
Poetry in motion...
Mark Henry, one of our team members, is a budding poet in his spare time. Here is Mark's tale of the regatta weekend:
Mark Henry, July 2010
Twas our weekend for racing as the HBS Crew; all of us keen to see how well we’d do
Our skipper said the start line will be over there, so I settled my nerves with a pre contest beer
The pit crew warmed up by drinking their tea; then eating a croissant & a doughnut (or three)
Ready for action for the start line we made; the race officer said ‘the first race course is laid’
The skipper said “Right guys now this is my call” & we all gathered around to listen to Paul
“We’ll put the sun in our faces and close haul on port tack”.......................
So we broad reached to starboard with the sun at our backs
“Not quite the game plan” said the skip, with a sigh; “We’ll do better yet” yelled the crew in reply
Charging the line on the course we had charted;.....we promptly charged back cos race 2 hadn’t started
“We can only improve from the position we’re in,” said Richard and Carl with stout hearts & a grin
“Well” replied Matt, “we have got sod all to lose; from here at the back we’ll cover all the fleet’s moves”
We made up 12 places in the course of that race so we managed to wipe some of the egg from our face
Later; Matt in his shorts and me in my cap were prepping the foredeck for the next racing lap
When from aft of the mast there arose such a clatter that we leapt from our chores to see what was the matter
Down to the cockpit we raced in a flash expecting any second to hear a loud splash
But running toward us with boat hook held ready; came flying our Dutchman yelling “boys hold me steady!”
He tried in vain effort bags of crisps to impale; like a harpoonin’ Ahab in pursuit of his whale
Though just like the story they evaded his stab and were caught at the stern by Kim with a grab
With much slicker sailing we were 10th in race 3; out thinking the fleet with a run to the lee
Pulling on halyards, with all of our might we were fast with both launching and retrieving our kite
Fine tuning the sheet and haul in on the guy, ease off the Cunningham then downwind we’d fly
Gybed round the mark, ported 62 then close hauled the last beat like a clipper we flew
This last of the day was our best race by far and pleased with our progress we set course for the bar
We figured we should motor to Cowes for the dinner; all of us wiser;.... at least one of us thinner
Then “ Bugger! Oh sod it! The props going round but we’re not moving forward or covering ground;
We’ll just have to sail in like they did in old days”; so we tacked up Medina to many’s curious gaze
We made it in time to inhale lots more beer...; well that’s what I did - “stops dehydration my dear”
And finished the night swiftly swopping our boat ; so ending day 2 of our weekend afloat
Sunday began with Tim’s “morning to all”; Richard’s dawn tea’s maid; and red eyes for Paul
We breakfasted quick and were out to the start; ready for action “to win; not take part!”
We headed inshore to seek a tide eddy; the main fleet did battle against 4 knots steady
Downwind of the mark amidst panics and broaches our training proved the value in what Paul had coached us
We moved up 8 places with our spinnaker tricks and finished race 4 in an excellent 6th
Then to our last race though we didn’t know then; that the wind & the tide would sort boys from the men
Like a true racing team Paul’s crew downwind came; and he cajoled and he guided and called them by name
“Grind Richard, Ease Michael, ease the mainsheet too Tim
Release Matt, Sheet in Carl; halyard to Mark could you Kim?”
Avoiding the carnage all around we sailed on; And finished in tenth having had to go long
Finishing 12th overall was a pretty good feat; but my favourite moment’s looking back at the fleet
Beam reaching towards us with spinnakers up; as I drained my post race 4 tea from my cup
I know that I speak both for Kim & for me that we’ve had a great time with you all out at sea
We’d be thrilled to go sailing with all or a few & maybe invite others to come join this great crew
To my crewmates I have these few words now to write ....
Happy sailing to all and to you all a good night.
Our skipper said the start line will be over there, so I settled my nerves with a pre contest beer
The pit crew warmed up by drinking their tea; then eating a croissant & a doughnut (or three)
Ready for action for the start line we made; the race officer said ‘the first race course is laid’
The skipper said “Right guys now this is my call” & we all gathered around to listen to Paul
“We’ll put the sun in our faces and close haul on port tack”.......................
So we broad reached to starboard with the sun at our backs
“Not quite the game plan” said the skip, with a sigh; “We’ll do better yet” yelled the crew in reply
Charging the line on the course we had charted;.....we promptly charged back cos race 2 hadn’t started
“We can only improve from the position we’re in,” said Richard and Carl with stout hearts & a grin
“Well” replied Matt, “we have got sod all to lose; from here at the back we’ll cover all the fleet’s moves”
We made up 12 places in the course of that race so we managed to wipe some of the egg from our face
Later; Matt in his shorts and me in my cap were prepping the foredeck for the next racing lap
When from aft of the mast there arose such a clatter that we leapt from our chores to see what was the matter
Down to the cockpit we raced in a flash expecting any second to hear a loud splash
But running toward us with boat hook held ready; came flying our Dutchman yelling “boys hold me steady!”
He tried in vain effort bags of crisps to impale; like a harpoonin’ Ahab in pursuit of his whale
Though just like the story they evaded his stab and were caught at the stern by Kim with a grab
With much slicker sailing we were 10th in race 3; out thinking the fleet with a run to the lee
Pulling on halyards, with all of our might we were fast with both launching and retrieving our kite
Fine tuning the sheet and haul in on the guy, ease off the Cunningham then downwind we’d fly
Gybed round the mark, ported 62 then close hauled the last beat like a clipper we flew
This last of the day was our best race by far and pleased with our progress we set course for the bar
We figured we should motor to Cowes for the dinner; all of us wiser;.... at least one of us thinner
Then “ Bugger! Oh sod it! The props going round but we’re not moving forward or covering ground;
We’ll just have to sail in like they did in old days”; so we tacked up Medina to many’s curious gaze
We made it in time to inhale lots more beer...; well that’s what I did - “stops dehydration my dear”
And finished the night swiftly swopping our boat ; so ending day 2 of our weekend afloat
Sunday began with Tim’s “morning to all”; Richard’s dawn tea’s maid; and red eyes for Paul
We breakfasted quick and were out to the start; ready for action “to win; not take part!”
We headed inshore to seek a tide eddy; the main fleet did battle against 4 knots steady
Downwind of the mark amidst panics and broaches our training proved the value in what Paul had coached us
We moved up 8 places with our spinnaker tricks and finished race 4 in an excellent 6th
Then to our last race though we didn’t know then; that the wind & the tide would sort boys from the men
Like a true racing team Paul’s crew downwind came; and he cajoled and he guided and called them by name
“Grind Richard, Ease Michael, ease the mainsheet too Tim
Release Matt, Sheet in Carl; halyard to Mark could you Kim?”
Avoiding the carnage all around we sailed on; And finished in tenth having had to go long
Finishing 12th overall was a pretty good feat; but my favourite moment’s looking back at the fleet
Beam reaching towards us with spinnakers up; as I drained my post race 4 tea from my cup
I know that I speak both for Kim & for me that we’ve had a great time with you all out at sea
We’d be thrilled to go sailing with all or a few & maybe invite others to come join this great crew
To my crewmates I have these few words now to write ....
Happy sailing to all and to you all a good night.
Mark Henry, July 2010
13.7.10
2010 Cranfield MBA Regatta results
Full results table of the regatta for all 37 entries. Four race results are counted with one discard (in grey). The 37th boat did not complete any of the races and therefore is not in the table.
12.7.10
An excellent regatta for the Henley team
The Henley crew finished 12th out of 37 boats, a massive improvement on last year and the result of training, good leadership and a lot of hard work by all the team. Well done everyone!
We will be posting some more thoughts on the weekend's sailing and social activities together with photos and video clips shortly.
16.6.10
Ready to race!
- Paul Bennett (skipper)
- Tim Lawson
- Richard Steele
- Carl de Verteuil
- Matt Steele
- Kim Maclarty
- Michiel Commandeur
- Mark Henry
We will be out on the water all day on Friday 9th getting used to the boat and making sure all the gear is in working order. More news soon.
16.5.10
May Training
Our most recent training session took place on the 15th/16th May, again on the Solent. Two excellent days of sailing allowed the crew to hone their skills and work really well together as a team. Skipper Paul Bennett ensured that we covered a good mix of race situations while also adding in some great tuition for those who are working on RYA qualifications.
Our spinnaker work improved over the weekend with Matt and Mark showing great skill in getting the sail up and down in record time.
20.4.10
April Training
The April training weekend took place on the 17th and 18th. A team meeting and meal was held on the Saturday night with sailing out on the Solent all day Sunday.
The weather was glorious although very light winds limited the sailing activity. This gave the crew an ideal opportunity to practice the spinnaker drill many times - a critical skill for the regatta.
The weather was glorious although very light winds limited the sailing activity. This gave the crew an ideal opportunity to practice the spinnaker drill many times - a critical skill for the regatta.
13.4.10
Training Weekends
The first of our training weekends is planned for this Saturday and Sunday (17th / 18th April). We hope to cover a lot of ground with the crew and to establish the roles on board for this summer's MBA regatta.
The team will base themselves on the Hamble for the weekend with the main sailing taking place on the Solent.
More news soon!
The team will base themselves on the Hamble for the weekend with the main sailing taking place on the Solent.
More news soon!
11.2.10
Recruiting Now!
We are looking for new team members to join our 2010 sailing programme. If you have experience of yacht racing and either have an MBA (or equivalent) or are currently studying for an MBA, please make contact now.
Our training weekends for this season are: 17th/18th April; 15th/16th May. The regatta runs on the 10th/11th July. There is a cost involved of around £320. All sailing takes place in the Solent leaving from Portsmouth (Port Solent) or the Hamble.
The team organiser, Tim Lawson, can be contacted via tim@lawsonconsulting.co.uk
.
Our training weekends for this season are: 17th/18th April; 15th/16th May. The regatta runs on the 10th/11th July. There is a cost involved of around £320. All sailing takes place in the Solent leaving from Portsmouth (Port Solent) or the Hamble.
The team organiser, Tim Lawson, can be contacted via tim@lawsonconsulting.co.uk
.
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