The shorter, the better – that’s the motto in the Navy. If it was up to us, every race would be held over 50m only. However, at 200m the Stanley Short Course Race is as good as it gets: short, sharp and explosive!

The Short Course Race is of course also the last race of the season. And although it is a fun race with a good time at the beach, it actually attracts some very serious Chinese teams. This year, there were 36 entries in the Men’s Division (the only division the Navy will ever contest!). The first heat would already be a serious challenge with plenty of Chinese teams including the Stanley Fishermen but also old rivals SMUGs.

Following the main Stanley Championships some two weeks ago we had continued our training, but at the urging of Sailor Barnaby had practiced a more shorter, sharper stroke for our start. It was controversial to some extent to change our strategy so late in the season, but it certainly paid off handsomely today.

Looking at the race distance we decided to keep it simple: Our refined short/sharp LiechtenStart and then just chug it to the beach. No power up call, just paddle like hell! Relaxed, but focused as ever, we lined up between the SMUGs and CLP. “READY!” cried the starter lady and “BOOM!” we were gone. The new start worked like a dream with traction kicking in from 18 paddles ripping through the water. Our fast ten were so fast and furious the boat almost caught fire. “READY AND REACH” and I no longer saw the SMUGs dragon head out of the corner of my eye. But as so often this year, teams came crawling back at us and that dragon head on the left came back into my sight twenty strokes down the field. “COME ON!” We kicked, we dug, we swore and three boats went across the line in rapid succession. One was definitely ours, but which was hard to tell.

At our debriefing – not yet knowing the result – Sailor Barnaby again summed it up perfectly: it was a great race because we executed exactly what we planned to do: 1) an explosive start and 2) a fast-paced chug. Once the result was out, it also confirmed the third target was achieved: beat the SMUGs! We were second, only 0.1 of a second behind the Stanley Fishermen.

It was an important achievement, because only first and second place would make it into the Cup semis, the rest were relegated to the Plate and Bronze. After the first round, the Navy and Fair Dinkum (which we recently learned were listed in a Chinese race as ‘Fail Dinki’) were the only ‘non-Chinese’ teams in the Cup semis. The top three teams of each semi final would go into the Gold Cup, the bottom three into the Silver Cup. As I went to check the line-up I had to ask the lady for a lot of translation, as more than half the teams only had a Chinese name – not a good sign because those tend to be the strongest teams. There was also an entry from Taiwan.

We decided not to worry too much about the competition and instead simply repeat our strategy from the first round. As we raced in lane 1 we also had a good view of the entire field at the start, just in case one of the Chinese boys felt the need to jump the gun. But it was a clean start and we threw it all at it again. It was fast, it was furious, but it was also fun – a massive adrenaline rush. We knew how short the distance was, hence needed not to worry about holding anything back. Just throwing the kitchen sink in right from the start. Attesting to the seriousness of the competition, the result was incredibly close: all six boats were separated by just over a second from first (50.94) to last (52.06). And guess what: the motley crew in blue and red, also known as the Liechtenstein Princely Navy, was in SECOND PLACE!

Thus for the sixth time this season we found ourselves in the top final. Only that here the field was even more esteemed. Or more Chinese. Aside from us there was NTN HQ (who?), South Eagle (winners of the Open Competition at the HKIDBR and if I recall correctly current Short Course Race title holders), Tam Sum Dragon and the Taiwanese boat. Glancing at the big trophy on our way to the warm-up, we fancied our chances for a victory to celebrate the end of the season. Lt Charlie’s instructions were simple: we stick to the winning formula, but with one improvement – as the drum comes in we need to totally focus, no splashing, stay clean, don’t go crazy.

Staring down the race course for one final time in 2011, two cases of Red Bull flowing through our collective veins, we were ready for the last HURRAH! But it was clear from the “GO!” that this would not be a walk in the park. Unlike the previous two heats the other boats were out of the starting box as quickly – if not quicker – as we were. The race was so fast, it was hard to think. “TEN!”, “TWENTY!” Concentrate, focus! “THIRTY!”, “FORTY!” Three toots that weren’t for us and across the line with the Taiwanese. It was a hard battle and one we didn’t win. In fact we came fifth and last. It certainly was not for a lack of effort, but that’s the level of competition you run into in the Gold Cup Final.

Thus, we were the “Rest of the Best” (not the other way around). In a way it neatly summed up our season, where we so often made it into the top final, but didn’t have what it takes to clinch the top spot. But you always have to leave some room for improvement…

But overall it was a magnificent way to end the season. Full of power and energy, racing against the best boats out there. And as always finishing off with our season-ending, Fosters-guzzling, BBQ-roasting, Bratwurst-munching, Vodka-punching, Liechtenstein-yodeling, ribbon-cutting beach fest!