MYC 50th anniversary, Bob Hickson’s anyone for tea ?

Wednesday sailing – We’ve got to stop the Rot !  By Bob Hickson  (Ahoy, Apr/May 2000)

It has come to my attention that there could be a very serious problem occurring in the ranks of our Wednesday Sailors.

This to me can only be described as a very insidious white-anting, striking at very core and structure of the age old traditions of Wednesday Sailing.

In my fifteen years of involvement with this wonderful mid-week day of friendly rivalry and bonhomie which usually consists of the quaffing of copious amounts of amber liquid and culminating in the wondrous glory and prestige of winning the highly coveted bottle of Bundy. I ask all you sailors to be alert and on guard in case this incursion into the very framework of Wednesday sailing does gain support.

I will explain.

Agreed it is very ungentle manly to accept the invitation to sail on a boat and then criticize one’s hosts. However, I believe this to be so serious a breach of tradition that I feel I must speak out, and speak out I will.

It happened like this. After the usual excitement and tension of the start it is only natural that the tension must be relived and what better way than to resort to a taste of the afore-mentioned amber liquid and having brought some on board I invited my hosts to partake. No thanks was the reply, but is there anyone for tea or coffee. WHAT !!! Tea or coffee on a Wednesday Sail. Just imagine the implications if ever this practice gets a foothold.

Look what happened to the Sheffield Shield. Qld winning and spending a week pickled in Four X. What now ? A week saturated in Pura Milk !!!

Picture the scenario at Wednesday’s presentation: Today’s sponsor is the manufacturer of Bushells Tea. First prize being half a pound of Bushells Billy Team. And so on down the scale to tea bags as lucky draws.

What a disaster. They MYC would be the laughing stock of the entire yachting world.

For my part the only thing I thought I would do I did. I bought the offending yacht.

This subversion must be stopped at its very beginning !!!

The sequel to this story is: Fifteen years ago I joined the sailing fraternity after a lifetime of dust and flies in the West. I bought ‘THE FOX’ from Grahame Knowles and did my best to carry on the established traditions of fund and enjoyment set by Grahame. I have made a lot of friends and found a new life associated with sailing and sailors and becoming very good friends with both Grahame and Monica. What goes around comes round. On hearing ‘THE FOX’ was for sale Grahame and Dave Maudlen were immediately on my doorstep and in an instant ‘THE FOX’ was back where it was fifteen years ago. Back to its old lair and still with the MYC and no doubt the traditions will continue. No Knowlesiee, my black address book is not part of the sale.

My apologies Jacki, but I did warn you that I could feel a story coming on !!!

The Flagrant Fox