by Mike Pennell, (NMMC Resident Poet)
In summer, Yachting Volunteers
put boats out on the buoys;
while we endure the Waterfront
they play with pricey toys!!
They have no shame or conscience,
they really just don’t care
if those back home are desperate
& DMs tear their hair!!
We dash around shorthanded
while they Haul Yards Aback –
(why haven’t they gone metric -
when they’re measuring their Tack?)
They lay about on varnished decks
consuming gin and beer –
They really don’t consider
that we’re struggling back here.
But now its winter lay-up time,
the boats are brought ashore,
our shifts are swelled by numbers -
rosters full of names galore.
They come in with a rolling gait,
tell tales of foreign shores -
(but where they’ve really spent their time –
is anchored off St. Mawes!!)
It’s just as well they have come back
(although they get abused) –
for I depart for three weeks soon -
It’s months since I last cruised !!
