Old Racing Skippers When You Die

Old Racing Skippers When You Die

By Dennis Coates

OLD RACING SKIPPERS WHEN YOU DIE,

SET DEADBEAT COURSE FOR HEAVEN’S LIE,

BEAT AND GYBE, ON TACK OR FREE,

FOLLOW THE COURSE-LET GLORY BE.

LAST MARK ASTERN. AND SPINNAKER SHY,

ALLOW FOR THE LINE BUT KEEP HER HIGH,

HELM HER TRUE, STAND CLEAR OF OTHERS,

SHOUT LOUD AND CLEAR YOUR VIEW OF MOTHERS.

SAINT PETER WAITS WITH GUN ABEAM,

A STICKLER FOR RULES, SO KEEP IT CLEAN,

AND WITH THE LINE PLAIN TO BE SEEN,

HAIL "STARBOARD GOD" - YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

JUST SHOOT THE LINE AND CALL IT RIGHT,

YOU MIGHT BE IN HEAVEN. YOU REALLY MIGHT.

About the Author: Dennis Coates has raced and cruised small sailboats in the United Kingdom for over fifteen years. He placed tenth in the 850 RTI in the UK the third year of the race. Now he is helping his sons follow a passion for the water.

To pay the bills he is a management lecturer and consultant, working with government and leading corporations.. He is the author of three non-fiction management texts but Into Happy Havens is his first novel.. Coates lives in West Dorset. U.K.