My day following the round the island race

Seagull Race — A diary by Amanda Dale:

Wednesday, June 15, 9:30pm: I get chatting to two guys in The Robin Hood who are taking part in the race. One tells me the boats are usually well-stocked with beer and that some “Seagullians” while away the time fishing.

Saturday, June 18, 10am: I meet my friend Suzanne Koren and her friend, boat designer Tim Ward, at Norwood Boat House, Pembroke.

It’s a beautiful day and the water is glassy, just like a mill pond.

Tim asks: “Would you like a beer?”

“But it’s only 10 in the morning,” I say.

“That’s seagulling,” he replies.

We head off towards Sandys Boat Club in the Vipmoray, Tim’s homemade dinghy — one of today’s crash boats.

11:30am: We perform our first and only rescue of the day, towing in the Lil Wonky, which has broken down near Boaz Island.

“At least we nearly made it to the starting line this year,” jokes captain Kevin Pearson.

11:45am: We dock at Sandys Boat Club where I pick up a souvenir t-shirt. The crews of the Sports Racing class Seagulls are making their final preparations on the beach at Mangrove Bay.

Very narrow and thin, they are designed for speed, to cut like a knife through butter across the water. Impressive, and as a sign on JJ Soares’ self-designed boat says, Size Matters. Game Over goes on to win the race and set a new Round the Island Race record at two hours, seven minutes.

12:57pm: The scenery is just gorgeous. Longtails swoop over the Vipmoray and turquoise ocean while Tim and Suzanne regale me with anecdotes from Bermuda’s maritime history.

Passing racers wave, blast airhorns and hold up beers as if in a kind of ritual camaraderie. I start my third beer.

1:09pm: As we pootle past Warwick Long Bay, Tim asks us to quieten down “a bit” as he negotiates a series of reefs.

“I’m having a hard time seeing,” he adds.

“Is it these Sombreros?,” I ask, referring to the two hats I’ve brought back from Mexico to shield Suzanne and I from the sun.

“You have no idea,” says Tim. “It’s like going round the Seagull Race blindfolded.”

1:12pm: I start to get the need to go to the bathroom. Uh-oh. Tim kindly pulls into Devonshire Bay for Suzanne and I.

As I try to get back in the dinghy, with my left leg over the side, I fall spectacularly back into the water, sombrero and all.

“How many drinks have you had?,” laughs Liz Pedro on the beach.

2:45pm: We finally make it to Blackbeard’s Hideout in St George’s for lunch. This is accompanied by a pina colada and a margarita.

4:30pm: Leave Blackbeard’s and Suzanne and I head down the beach. Tim asks us to help pull the boat off the shore. “Pull, not push!,” he tells us as we fail to move it.

“I wish I had a camera,” says one of the guys from the bar, laughing at us.

5pm: We’re zooming along the North Shore on our home stretch and will probably be the last boat back for the party. But that’s what the Seagull Race is all about — having fun and enjoying the island’s scenery.

We decide to sup a final Heineken on the way home.

5:50pm: Arrive back at Sandys Boat Club after having successfully circumnavigated the island.

We are the second to last seafaring vessel back, so not officially last.

My bottom is sore and I feel a bit wobbly, but what a fantastic day.