Page 77 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

LD crew 1 after a successful day on the water
Throughout the first week of September 2021, six Light Dragoons selflessly sac- rificed a week of work to sail in the Combat Arms Sailing Regatta at the Seaview Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight. 22 teams from across the combat arms competed in the three handed Seaview Mermaid yacht. It proved to be a competitive couple of days racing, combined with demanding eve- nings of socialising.
With beautifully sunny days, competi- tors could have been forgiven for believ-
Sailing
ing they were in The Mediterranean. The breeze was mixed, ranging from a glassy Solent to 20 knot gusts requiring reefs to be put into sails and a restriction on the use of spinnakers. Crews also had to con- tend with the strong and constantly chang- ing tides throughout each day of racing. Tpr Martin, new to the sport of sailing, added consistent value on the bow of crew 1, distracting other crews with rap songs and well-choreographed dance moves to ‘I’m on a boat.’
10 races were sailed by each crew. The LDs first team finished 5th overall with high- lights including two guns and a second. The second team, sailing with two novices, finished a respectable 15th overall. The regatta proved to be an excellent intro- duction to the sport of sailing for LCpl Harrold, LCpl Crookes who had no prior experience to the sport and Tpr Martin, for whom it was his 3rd ever time on a boat.
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LCpl Harrold and LCpl Crooks scan the course for breeze
Seaview Yacht Club
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
L to R: LCpl Crooks, Cpl Rae, Tpr Martin, Lt Ellis, LCpl Harrold, Lt Griffiths
The team enjoy a moment of quiet reflection prior to the regatta dinner
Tpr Martin and LCpl Harrold unwind after a demanding days racing
Seaview Yacht Club
Lt Ellis pretends to know what he’s doing
Lt Griffiths and his crew search for the favoured end of the line
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