SPLICE THE MAINBRACE AND ALL THAT

Gun Flash, Issue XXVIII, 3 July 1943, Page 3

SPLICE THE MAINBRACE AND ALL THAT

■What-ho, ( you yacht ip s'. ’. ’. Cluster - around and read all; about; the open- . ing day at the Royal Yactft; Squadron, a function which will long, ’ be' remembered in- this ? part • of Nocal. In C o’mmo dor e Gr if fin 1 s inaugural speech, which was delivered from the' . ? skids 1 ., he outlined i*ho. aims and activities of the club - stressing ‘ • beer, beer and more beer,. With a spot of sailing chucked -in. ‘ (Applause, • ! arid-’Good old Griff’). Subscriptions; ' immediately beg an to ~ pour; in, and Hon | Sec was.unable• to cope with the rush. - '-- ■ - •■ . k • . .’ The club’s pride and - joy, "Pearo - Mitchell’s 14- metre (Mark IX) Slap' .Happy” was then carried down to the drink. AH present, held their’ breath.. ”My. God.”, yelled Chief . • Bailer Huffadine, ”she- floats d u The ■. first run was made by skipper Macindoe (that well known .yachtsman from . Drunken Bay., on - , the ■ V/aitemata) and the stiff southerly filled “Slap Hop’s” .sails as she sped 'round-, course oil her maiden voyage.', "ES, givehlie a pop-lad - it looks gradely ’easy”, piped up Midshipmab Dick (Old ■ Boy) Ankers. > But disaster . overyook . his ’attempt ' and opening day -(as well. j as ’’Slap Happy") .was nearly ruined-i • when he capsized ,in gybing round a;/ : i

buoy. However, he dived .into, the sail ■and was ’ rescued- by the life sav ing detachment' (loud cheers ■ from . the shore)'. . 1 •

Keen to try 'his luck was that. Blond •Viking' Snow Pracy who said he' could ’’paddle his own canoe I ’,; didn’ t need the instructions cf the Commodore, or the. Skippe r, and turned A over ,T also Ko re applause from the land, lubbers, and once again the. salvage • crew 'went' into operation. Next came "Little Horse Fuffadirie”, who, . though full of 1 confidence at the outset, just disappear ed b one ath the foam while run*. ning before breeze» .Howls ’of- - ■ .mirth from the "sideline” at this . stage, . caused the Comaodore and JJk ip-; per tobecome somwhat apoplectic and to-, declare • the opening closed. ' ( ■■However, practice will bring its own reward and high hopes ere held;' for the future of these young 'member's An' open regatta will probably be hold 1

when he „ no;c t ’ boor ration arrives - and the ..comndttde has decided to hold a ladies night (they hope - they hop© * they 'hope;, ... ' . ' ‘I A cordial invitation is therefor©'. ■ extended to all 'lb cal- : belles (or those-virgin’ on ite), , SEA DOG. -