Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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27 appointed for the start, a warning gun is fired, so that the boats may be brought as near the line as possible. The actual race is generally two beats to windward and two to the leeward. Another of the principles is to get to the windward of the other dinghies, so as to have a greater advantage over the rest. Rounding the stake boat is a part of the race which needs much practice also. A good sailor will often get the better of the other boats in this posi- tion. If a boat is able to round the stake boat safely in a bunch of dinghies, it has a fair chance. Still one needs to be skillful at keeping the sails in the wind, pointing up as far as possible and balancing the boat. All these things must be borne in mind throughout the race, if not, you will be found straying behind. If a boat is to be kept in racing condition it is necessary that she should be well cared for, bailing her out after each rain, keeping her free from moss, painting her once in four months. The most important thing is to haul her up the day before, or at least six hours prior to the race to dry her out, as boats are likely to become sodden very quickly. This year, 1932, these dinghies are racing every Saturday until the end of July, then twice a week for the summer holidays, for a cup presented by Mr. Briggs Cunningham, an American who sailed in the six metre yacht races this year. Just at present ten dinghies race at 2.30 each Saturday. The boys that sail these dinghies have a great interest in them, and they afford pleasant, heathy exercise. H.M.B. V. AN ADVENTUROUS OUTING Just think of it, said Dick. Makes me jump for joy. Now Daddy has given me a new, big sailing boat, we shall be able to sail out to Barren Islands. I ' m not going to miss the chance, if tomorrow we are all free. Dick, the eldest of three brothers, had just been given by his father a brand new sailing boat. His two brothers were Arnold, the youngest, and Harry, who came between Arnold and Dick. They lived by the sea on one of the ma ny British Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. About three miles out to sea was a small island which was uninhabited; it was about two miles long and a quarter of a mile wide. This was the island that Dick, Arnold and Harry meant to sail to. The next day looked like a good one for sailing, but Jack, who was an old sailor, told them to look out, because he thought that it was going to be very windy. It took less than a quarter of an hour to put the sails on the Fleetwing, and they were soon moving fast through the water towards Barren Island. It took the Fleet-wing about half an hour to reach the island. Arnold, who was in the bow, was eager to be first ashore, and as soon as the boat was about two yards away from the land, he took a big jump; which, if the boat had stayed still, would have taken him safely onto land.

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26 On arriving at the boat-house, we sorted the fishing tackle, and stored it in the boat with the bait and lunch, and set off. In the middle of the lake was an island, and it was decided that the fishing would be good on the shady side. The skiff being anchored a little way off shore, the rods were set up and baited with the worms dug up early that morning. After this, there was nothing for us to do but wait for the tug which would mean a bite, and also give hopes of a catch. Suddenly one of the men ' s rods was bent almost double, and the fight was on. We were all excited as we knew from the pull that the fish was one well worth landing. After playing the fish for fifteen to twenty minutes, it was landed in the boat, and proved to be a pike of considerable size. We were very encouraged; but unfor- tunately that was our total catch of the morning. By one o ' clock we were ready for lunch, so we landed on the island, and thoroughly enjoyed the simple but ample fare. On wandering over the island which was covered with willows and rhododendrons, I discovered a crane ' s nest, with two eggs in it. Never having seen a crane ' s egg before, I immediately pocketed one, and left the other untouched; after which I returned to the boat. Once more we set out, and during the afternoon had better luck, as our patience was rewarded by a catch of three perch and seven roach. At sun-down we returned to the boat-house very tired, but feeling well satisfied with our day ' s results. Here we put everything in ship-shape order, and stringing our ca tch on a line, wandered slowly home, where a hearty supper and a good night ' s rest was waiting for us. W. T. Wilson, V. THE BERMUDA DINGHY RAGES Bermuda is an ideal place for the development of water sport, especially for sailing, having suitable weather practically throughout the year. During the summer months of 1931 certain members of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club organized a series of dinghy races to be sailed by a one design class of dinghies, specially imported to be raced by boys under eighteen. The races began during the time mentioned, but this being the first series of dinghy races in Bermuda for the younger generation, there were only ten dinghies competing. There are several regulations, but I will only say something of the most important. A dinghy on the port tack must give way to one on the starboard tack. If a stake boat is touched, the boat is disqualified from the race entirely. Each dinghy while rounding the stake boat must have a certain amount of room, if not the boat jamming another loses its points also. Getting a good start is a most important factor in the success of a race. This is perhaps the most spectacular time in the race for onlookers, each boat jockeying to get the best position. Five minutes before the hour

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28 But as the boat was only a small one, it went backwards under his feet, the result being that poor Arnold fell short of his mark. Luckily, however, it was not deep where he fell, and although he-got soaked up to the waist, he managed to keep his shirt dry. You silly idiot! said Dick, this is the way you spoil all our outings! I ' m sorry, said Arnold, but I did not mean to! I know you didn ' t mean to, but you must be more careful. Now haul down that mainsail, Harry, and drop the anchor. Harry soon did this, and they joined Arnold, who had clambered ashore, and who was shivering and looking very doleful. They then all broke into a run, heading for a little hill where they could command a view of the Island. This they climbed, Dick being the first one on top. I say, he said, panting from his exertions, It ' s getting awfully windy, and I think we ' d better go home soon. Not yet, said Harry. We can have a look round first. So they clambered down again and ran towards the other end of the island. I ' ll be first one there, shouted Dick, who was outstepping the others by a good bit. At that moment, though, there was a grunt and a rush, and a wild boar sprang out at him, its front teeth only just missing Dick ' s legs, and Dick pulling out a large knife, ran behind a tree. The others followed his example, for they all had knives. Look out, Harry! shouted Dick, he ' s coming for you! Harry was only just in time in springing aside, and as the boar passed him, he threw his knife, point first, into its m outh. The boar tossed his head trying to get rid of the knife that way, but the knife stuck firmly in. Finding that it would not come out, it charged away into the bush, squealing all the time, and disappeared. I think I ' ve had enough of it, said Arnold, who was very white, in a quivering voice, Let ' s go home. They were soon in the boat again and after having had some refresh- ments, they started out. The wind was blowing out to sea, which made progress very slow. They went in waters that they had never been in before, having to make wide tacks. Just at the end of one of these taks, Arnold saw a boat in the distance. That ' s Daddy come out to look for us, cried Arnold, I do hope he can see us. Just as he finished the sentence there was a terrific bump and a large hole appeared in the boat ' s bottom. Dick let go of the tiller, jam- ming his coat down the hole. The result of Dick ' s letting go of the tiller was that the boat came about again and hit the very same rock that it hit before. This made another hole appear in the bottom, and the boat began filling quickly. We shall be drowned, cried Arnold. Not today, at any rate, said Dick, who was being as cheerful as he