Page 7 - Bugle Autumn 2024

1 RIFLES
SAILING REGATTA
Between the 27 Apr and 01 May teams from across the regiment journeyed out to Cyprus to join the 1 RIFLES in their Mediterranean home for some dinghy racing. The expats and members of Dhekelia Services Sailing Club and Riflemen of Dhekelia Watersports Centre joined forces to host 34 Riflemen, ranks ranging from Rfn to Maj, and three club members for the event.
The event consisted of a practice day on the Sunday where some Riflemen took to the water in dinghies for the first time in either many years or their lives! Phrases like ‘Tack,’ ‘Gybe,’ ‘sheet’ and ‘tiller’ were often met with the blank expressions of the competitors’ first few days and weeks in the army. There were multiple murmurings of Riflemen wanting to get more into sailing, but whether that was due to the Cypriot sunshine and the blue Mediterranean, or a newfound love of the sport is up for debate!
Two competition days followed with Mother Nature not playing ball. Multiple ‘Goldilocks’ scenarios ensued with the wind being
either too light or too strong. Regardless,
the wind was ‘just right’ enough to get five Double-Handed and three Single-Handed races underway and complete, and the 5 RIFLES team even found some time for some freediving in search of a misplaced rudder! Three thoroughly enjoyable days of
sailing culminated in a prize giving and BBQ
at DWSC’s Turtle Bar. Alexander Barracks
RLC chefs put on a feast and Rfn Maynard produced some very smart prizes. The Single- Handed class was won by 5 RIFLES A, the Double-Handed by 1 RIFLES and the overall event won by 1 RIFLES with 8 RIFLES coming in a close second and 5 RIFLES A coming third. Next port; the RIFLES Regimental Regatta and a bigger and better RIFLES Dinghy Regatta 25! Lt Will “Fish” Penny
RIFLES Dinghy Regatta
RIFLES Dinghy Regatta
Multiple ‘Goldilocks’ scenarios ensued with the wind being either too light or too strong
Making the most of any gust of wind
RIFLES The Bugle 7