Tack

Not Following the Fleet

By: Charles Giuliano - Dec 29, 2014

Tack

Bobby Dangelmeyer
Best friend
Bitter rival
Had the fastest Fish boat
Local catboats
Always first around the buoys
Fleet just followed
Running out
Rounding the mark
Tacking home
Tricky up the Squam River
Races won or lost
Against the tide
Clusters of boats
Anchored to bathe at
Wingaersheek Beach
Competition for second or third
Final turn
Bobby tacked port off shore
Toward Ipswich River
They all followed
Rick Lourdan and I took starboard
All alone
Headed straight for the lighthouse
Catching an offshore breeze
Pointing up ever higher
Laying a line for the channel
Watched the fleet
Falling ever farther astern
Took the cannon
Stowed the boat
On the club porch
Saw Bobby finish
Second
Followed by the fleet
Always take the other tack
Lose most times
Now and then
Win big