Hughes Regatta - a Newcomer's View

Karsten Schiebler is one of my Dragon crew members. He came with me to sail the very successful Datchet Flying Fifteen "Hughes Regatta" at Datchet. We hold it each year to honour the birthday of our oldest fleet member, Richard Hughes - and to encourage newcomers to the Flying Fifteen. (Mr Hughes' age is no longer printable in polite company...) No spinnakers are allowed, and at least one person aboard has to be a newcomer to Flying Fifteens.  Karsten, with a name like his, obviously hails from Germany. He has been in the UK quite a while, where he is a successful International Hedge Fund Manager based out of London. Well, actually, he is a Hedge Fund.... Anyway, I asked him to record for the blog what he thought of the Hughes Regatta. Thankfully, it's printable....be grateful !! ....

This letter is to thank the Datchet sailing club Flying Fifteens for the perfect introduction to dinghy racing – The Hughes Regatta. I was invited to their annual open partner race. Here are a few points of observation. 

1 Arriving and meeting other competiters was easy and informal. All seem to watch each others preparation and chosen partners with great interest, but still gave a helping hand to launch the boats. 

2. Than I got a few hints what each of then many ropes do. Well - just hints...

3. Once the race started gloves are off. Richard becomes an Animal !!  I had to perform and we were rewarded with the second place. Great! Even coming all the way from Germany, the food the drink, the clubmembers and my captain will stay in my memory as the perfect day out. 

Thank you very much.