London Corinthian SC set for the 49th West Lancs 24 Hour Race
by Mole and Rat 11 Sep 2015 10:31 BST
12-13 September 2015
London Corinthian SC, based in Hammersmith, West London, is looking forward to attending the Southport 24 hr race this coming weekend. Two members (aka Mole and Rat) have been assembling the team...
RAT
Oh that we could have a few more Corinthians among us.
That do no work to-day!
MOLE, What's he that wishes so?
My cousin, Rat? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to capsize and sink, we are enow
To do our fellow sailors loss; and if to live,
The fewer boys and girls, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one person more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for sailing medals,
Nor care I who doth use club boats upon my cost,
It yearns me not if others my own wetsuit wear and dinghy boots make whiff;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet 'fastest lap', and that upon the midnight hour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a sailor from Corinthian,
God's peace! I would not lose so great a race as Southport 24 hour
As one person more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Rat, through my host,
That they which hath no stomach to this sail at West Lancs YC,
Let them depart; their passport shall be made,
And beers from our club bar put down their gullet;
We would not in those members company sail
That fears their fellowship to sail with us.
This day is call'd the 24 hour race of Southport.
They that outlive this day, and come safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse them at the name of Corinthian.
They that shall not sink this day, and tack and gybe to their old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast their neighbours,
And say "To-morrow marks Corinthians finest hour."
Then will they strip their rash vests and show their scars,
And say "These wounds I had on "Corinthian day."
Sailing salts forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But they'll remember, with advantages,
What laps they sailed and feats they did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in their mouths as household words -
Anna, CJ, Mat, Rowley, Aisling, Val, Cara, Martine, Liz, Alyson, Svenja, Rat and many more
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall good club members teach their own;
And Corinthian day shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of sailing friends
For they to-day that sail their dinghy with me
Shall be my brother and sister; be they ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle their condition;
And men and women in Britain now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their drysuits cheap whiles any speaks
That sailed with us at Southport upon Corinthians day....