6832: For all fishing schooners, the International Fishermans Series has been reinstated. Please race responsibly!
6832a: "I win again! Suck it bitches!"~ Bluenose
6832b: "FFFUUUUUU!"~ all the Gloucester boats.
Bluenose lived for racing! She was and always would be a fisherman at heart but it was the racecourse that made her soul sing. She loved the feel of the sea as it washed her rail, masts straining under a full load of canvas. Up until now, racing was not allowed not like that fact stopped Bluenose from doing it anyway. Until she allowed the abbyssalized version of U-47 to slip through the net. Oh Theabaud had a field day! The Yank could be a sore loser sometimes but never had Bluenose seen her friend/rival so angry.
In the end, the Admiralty agreed to allow Bluenose her passion and a new International Fisherman's Series was organized. This time, Mayflower was given her longtime dream of competing. She was giddy with excitement as she paced back and forth behind the start line. Bluenose sat quietly to windward of Theabaud, having to constantly maneuver to keep the experienced Yank in her lee. She also had to keep an eye on Columbia who was just behind her. Halifax held the starting gun and it went off with a bang. Bluenose charged downrange, tapping her speed as she settled into a nice long rhythmic stride. Theabaud was right next to her over the line and Columbia was trying to point higher and cut off her wind. Bluenose responded by tightening her sails and adjusting her course to a more close hauled position. Her unique bow gave her the advantage and she was able to block Columbia from drawing alongside. Swearing, Columbia readjusted her course, taking an inside track around the first mark which saved her ground and allowed her to squeeze in next to Theabuad. Now the three champions were just seconds apart on the course.
It was a nice long 10 mile leg to the second marker and Bluenose jogged easily, occasionally exchanging the lead with her two Yank companions. Rounding the second marker saw Columbia take an unexpected minute lead. Theabaud swore foully but Bluenose wasn't worried. There was a lot of race left. She was careful to keep the ridiculously fast Yank that some said was her greatest challenger close at hand. The wind was freshening now, picking up to 25 knots and Theabaud was straining under her load of canvas. She didn't dare douse any of her sails, needing to match Bluenose's load to the inch.
Approaching the final marker it was clear that Bluenose was gaining on Columbia who tried to float the Canadian towards the shore. Bluenose wasn't having it and ducked to the inside of her rival. Once clear of the buoy, she leaped clear in a phenomenal turn of foot. It was her classic maneuver when sailing into the wind, a move that more than once had many a sailor calling her a witch with the wind. Sensing Columbia was falling further and further behind she couldn't resist calling out to her rival. "If you got something to say, say it now because it'll cost ya postage later!" She shouted. "Damn you Bluenose!" Columbia snarled. Unable to keep up with the Canadian freak, she dropped back and was overhauled by Mayflower who managed to make up a lot of ground on the last windward leg. Bluenose still crossed the line a healthy 5 minutes ahead of her however.
She didn't stop either, taking a flying leap onto the dock as she put her rigging away. Momentum carried her up the street before she stumbled to a stop. Giddy with her victory, she did an impressive twirl to face Mayflower as she came up. "How, the hell, do you do that?!" The Bostonian panted. Bluenose shrugged. "MSSB?" She tried. "But even when you were a ship you were freakishly fast." Columbia put in as she joined Mayflower. "Well at least my speed carried over." Bluenose said. "How'd you manage to lose to Mayflower, Columbia?" She asked. "I don't know! She's a freak like you!" Columbia thew up her hands, inwardly groaning at Mayflower's smug look. "I'd say you've earned the right to race Mayflower. What do you think? Think you can handle running with the big girls?" Bluenose asked. "Oh hell yes!" Mayflower leaped into the air earning herself a laugh from Columbia and a roll of the eyes from Bluenose.
Only now did Theabaud come up and Bluenose wasted no time teasing her rival. "Should I have asked Haligonian to run? Maybe then you would've beaten somebody." She said. "Oh shut up!" Theabuad huffed, redfaced. "After the second marker I lost my foretopmast." "Excuses, excuses." Bluenose said, still grinning. "Doesn't change the fact that I win again bitches!" She exclaimed, hoisting her beloved trophy over her head. They all shot her a glare at that, even little Mayflower and as one they shouted "FFFFUUUUUUUU!"