| 3-4 July 2015: Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races |
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One Last Time Together
The 2015 season is over. Sailors can sleep in. Carbon fibre paddles are in storage. Stanley sand no longer imported into homes.
Looking back, the Navy had a tough season. Took a fair share of hits (Lamma Champions to 4th Runner Up). Stumbled along the way (repechage and plate finals). But falling together meant that we had to pick ourselves up together.
From LCDR Barnaby's new technique heavy trainings to the Admiral's tough new attendance edict, the team found the camaraderie that was sorely lacking at the beginning of the season.
What came were faster competitive starts, smoother transitions, powerful chugs, and more than six sailors at early morning trainings. New found unity also fostered respect among sailors and trust, that together the Navy could contend.
Friday - Small Boats, 250m. [CONTENT REMOVED BY NAVAL CENSORSHIP OFFICE DUE TO UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE]
Saturday - Standard Boats, 500m. Heat 1. X-men. Navy. Buzz. Chinese teams. Ark. This year, the HKIDBR invested in a new starting gun, or should we call it a cannon? From the loud bang the two Chinese teams were gone. The Ark, actually a mixed team, trailed. The Navy held on with X-men and Buzz. Clean start. No transition. +90 rating. The Navy's out-of-the-ordinary rating was set by the over-excitement from keeping up with the X-men. (Or was it the fact that the Admiral ordered all Red Bull supplies for the season to be extinguished by the day’s end?) But, the Navy wasn't built for Chinese-like ratings and 3/4 of the way down, while the Navy lost steam the X-men powered up to take 3rd. Buzz 4th. Navy 5th.
This year the Navy came together - technique, timing, practice, and becoming a boat of brothers. Next year, the Navy must push itself to mature together to bring home the trophies.
Admiral’s Comment: Although LTJG Vince has been retired - I mean promoted - to Station Chief Bangkok, I’m convinced we’ll see this Sailor again before long, having gone back and forth a few times over the past fourteen years since joining the Navy in 2002. Hence I wouldn’t mourn his departure from our shores too soon!
But it has to be said that LTJG Haggerty is the kind of Sailor any commanding officer wishes he had more of among his crew: quiet, hard working, fully committed! He’s had one of the highest and most consistent training attendance record throughout his naval career. He shows up, shuts up and gets the job done! Although first he goes to toilet, but that’s a story for another day… See you back soon, LTJG Vince!
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At the HKIDBR, the Navy as usual burrowed deep into their underground lair (Empire Center parking lot).
Repechage. Again the Navy was pitted against the X-men, who we imagine don’t even know how to spell repechage! The rules were simple, but the choice difficult: P1 goes to the final, the rest go to the Beerfest. This time, LCDR Barnaby took stroke setter position and was resolute in bringing the rating down after the transition. At the gun, the Navy took off and was in fact for a good 1/3 of the race in P1. This had never happened all season against the X-men. At the transition the boat ground to a comfortable high 70s rating allowing for bigger A-frames and longer strokes. Mid-way, the X-men caught up and we were head-to-head coming into the final third of the race. And this is where maturity dictated the winner. Not fart jokes and dick drawings kind of maturity (although the Navy always finds humour in it), but the maturity to stick to a plan in the face of exhaustion. So while the Navy petered out near the end with individual sailors going into self-preservation mode, the X-men powered on and once again came out on top. (Or was it the Admiral’s strategic decision to aim for the first spot in the Beerfest instead of the last spot in the final?)
Speaking of togetherness, 2015 was the final season for LTJG Haggerty, who moves to Thailand with his family. A seasoned Dragon Boater and Outrigger, his composure, endurance, and positive outlook was a big part of the team. A great guy at practices, social events, and races, just don't take his hat or he'll take your life.
