The Stanley Short Course Race is the last race of the season. It is a highly competitive race that attracts a lot of the local Chinese teams yet at the same time it is a much more relaxed and “casual” event than the massive circus two weeks prior. For the Liechtenstein Princely Navy it presented an opportunity to finish a fantastic season in style!

Before we get to the actual race, we shall take a moment to review the composition of a great boat: First, there is the ‘French Front’, a well-oiled but poorly understood team of French and Semi-French paddlers that set the stroke, followed by the Quiet Row whose only job is to be in synch with the front. The third row, which is generally accepted as the most important in the boat, completes the pacers who set the rhythm and must be absolutely in tune.

Rows four to six are the engine block of the Navy. It is where the power sits: big, strong, brawny Sailors that women fantasize over in their dreams. Behind them, in rows seven to nine are “The Back Six” known as The Pushers. They are a pushy bunch of Sailor on the edge, the catalyst that pushes the boat forward and carries the speed and power to the line.

Put all together, it presents and eclectic yet explosive mixture that is known – and feared – as The Liechtenstein Princely Navy.

And that’s the Navy that lined up for Race 13 in lane 4 at 1100hrs after good warm-up on the ERG – short for the Extraterrestrial Rowing Geruest. To our right, the Tai Tam Tigers – friends on shore but foes on the water – and to our left Tai Tam Tuk, a strong local outfit that was overheard at the start talking about the Navy in Chinese: “Don’t worry about them; they’re only a bunch of gweilos.” Yes, technically that is true, but this bunch of gweilos are also Stanley B Cup Champions and are easily underestimated, as Tai Tam Tuk had to learn the hard way. As the race went underway and we came out of the LiechtenStart, the Tigers were left behind. By twenty strokes the Navy had settled into an excellent rhythm but Tai Tam Tuk was fighting hard. By thirty strokes it was tight, by forty it was clear and by fifty it was over. Liechtenstein had won the race – the fourth in a row – in a time of 52:12, the fifth fastest of all 43 men’s teams!

Of the seven boats lined up for the semi final the Navy had the fastest time of the first round. However, times are not a reliable indicator of future performance and the competition, including two Stanley Fishermen’s teams and another one from Tai O, could not be underestimated. We were in lane 4, again, but this time we struggled with the line-up. The stern rope appeared to be too short and the helmsman was thus holding us back. The Back Six were paddling fiercely before the race even went under way, just to keep our nose level with the rest. As the horn went off our paddles hit the water somewhat late and other boats jumped ahead. But by the time the drum came in we were back in the game, fighting hard for a good finish. In the end, it was only fourth place, which put us in the Silver Cup Final – the second highest of the competition.

For the final, the field was almost exclusively Chinese – with the exception of the Seagods, a.k.a. the Seagulls (click for sound effect), Arch Enemies Extraordinaire. Winning the final would be nice, but beating the Seagods was a MUST. We lined up in the far lane (6), hungry for victory and thirsty for the four cases of Foster’s waiting at the beach. READY! Paddles went up and off we went into a beautiful, well-timed, supremely executed and flawlessly delivered race piece. It felt good, it felt strong, it felt clean – but it was only good enough for fifth place. Such was the level of the competition. But – IMPORTANTLY – the Seagods came sixth and last. Mission accomplished.

To the Foster’s! To the Bratwurst! To all the frivolous celebrations of a fantastic season of tough training, hard racing and fantastic team work that is the spirit of the Liechtenstein Princely Navy – the Greatest Naval Force In Dragon Boat History!

Download the Full Race Results

P.S. Note to self: Jumping off the pier at low tide is a STUPID IDEA. Do not repeat.