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From: Peter Fogg (no email)
Date: Fri Jan 20 2006 - 19:02:54 EST
It is fairly well known - as it gets lots of publicity - that there is a
yacht race that begins in Sydney, Australia, on Boxing Day and heads south
to Hobart in the island state of Tasmania. What is rather less well known is
that another yacht race begins a day later in Pittwater, just to the north
of Sydney, and heads north to Mooloolabah in Queensland. It can be the first
leg in a series of races that eventually takes the fleet further north to
the Whitsundays - a sailing paradise - for the culmination of that series:
the Hamilton Island Regatta.
So one sailing boat, a few days out from Pittwater, was making its way to
the north, just ghosting along in light air, all alone on the shimmering
wide blue sea except for a fishing boat in its path. As the yacht drew
closer to this squat workhorse a couple of deck hands could be seen leaning
against the rail, watching the racing yacht approach. Even going slowly such
boats built for speed are impressive machines; low slung with a flush deck
dominated by huge winches, and numerous crew.
"Leave the talking to me" said one of the yacht's crew, an Englishman, and
called out in an exaggerated English accent to the fishermen:
"I SAY, OH I SAY, CAN YOU HEARR ME?"
They heard.
"CAN YOU TELL ME PLEASE, I SAY, DO YOU KNOW BY ANY CHANCE; THAT IS, THE
THING IS, YOU SEE .
IS TASMANIA VERY FARR?"
Apparently their jaws dropped, but no word was heard. As the two boats drew
apart the Englishman was left forlornly imploring:
"OH I SAY: CAN'T YOU TELL ME PUH-LEASE !"
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