Regatta de Grey

Drafted in to help out in the Edinburgh Gin sponsored regatta. 'The Forth's Premier Racing Event,' didn't you know. Anyway, that meant a few hours on the start boat. The start line is between the boat and that black can off to the left y'see. For these events there's a five minute start gate, so you have to clock each boat as they come through and at each lap. You get the idea. And blow a horn. And raise and lower flags.
It was a squally old day but the highpoint was probably when we came to finish up. The anchor wouldn't come up. I gave up after shredding my good bloody gloves. So we got another guy in from one of the other boats, and four of us hauled like a tug of war. Eventually we got it to the surface, just. It was snagged under some bloody steel cable. That's one to relate over a beer or two on Monday night, I'd say.
Right! Back to the Guardian and Macon Rouge. And Steve Earle.