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    Seas Aflame
    Seas Aflame
    Seas Aflame
    Ebook446 pages4 hours

    Seas Aflame

    By Derek Hart

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    About this ebook

    Nathan Talbot participated in the 1936 Olympics, as captain of the Tyrian Tempest, representing the United Kingdom in the 6-Meter Class Yachting races. The competition was fierce and even though Talbot was a skilled sailor, he was disappointed with only winning the Bronze Medal, outmaneuvered by the German sailing master Werner Grossman. However, there were other darker issues plaguing the young Englishman once he returned from Nazi Germany. Something sordid and dangerous was simmering underneath all the pomp and circumstance of the new Fatherland.

    Less than four years later, Nathan's concerns were realized, as Germany plunged the world into yet another war. This time, Talbot took command of a Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) and this time set sail for combat in the English Channel. Nathan was soon to discover that his old nemesis, Werner Grossman, had been given command of an entire E-boat flotilla operating in the same area. Then one night, while Talbot was sneaking about Occupied France, he literally ran into 19-year-old Elise Dube and it was love at first sight. While taking daring risks to keep the flames of romance burning, Talbot was also assigned to British Intelligence. It seemed that the former yachtsman's first-hand experience with French ports would come in handy for more covert reasons.

    There was just one problem. It also became obvious that Herr Grossman had also been captivated by Elise Dube's charms and planned to seduce her. Failing that, the German officer had every intention of forcing himself upon her. While the war at sea was often decided with lightning speed and brutal results, World War Two became incredibly personal for Nathan Talbot, who would stop at nothing to rescue his true love.

    Seas Aflame is the second book in Derek Hart's MTB Trilogy. It is packed with furious action, derring-do and sizzling romance, but is also the result of extensive research. This is not just a tale about brave men and women wrapped up in the cruelty of war, but about the sacrifices and losses good people were forced to make in the face of great evil. In the end, love was what made the difference.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDerek Hart
    Release dateMay 25, 2011
    ISBN9781458144089
    Seas Aflame
    Author

    Derek Hart

    Derek Hart is the prolific author of 28 action and adventure novels, known for their historical accuracy, while still maintaining a high level of entertainment. Romance is also a vital part of Derek Hart's trademark style and his novels generally appeal to men and women alike. Mr. Hart authored Secret of the Dragon's Eye, his first novel aimed at all age groups, which met with instant success and outstanding reviews. The author has since followed with Secret of the Dragon's Breath, Secret of the Dragon's Claw, Secret of the Dragon's Scales and Secret of the Dragon's Teeth. The final volume of the 6-episode series, Secret of the Dragon's Wings, will be available in November of 2018. He has since started a new series, post-apocalyptic in nature, with Minerva's Shield and Nike's Chariot. The third installment, Apollo's Plague came out in November 2017. Abandoned was published in March 2018 and Game Over premiered in June 2018. List of published books: Secret of the Dragon’s Eye Secret of the Dragon’s Breath Secret of the Dragon’s Claw Secret of the Dragon’s Scales Secret of the Dragon’s Teeth Secret of the Dragon’s Wings Claws of the Raven Danger Cruise Favor for FDR Crooked Cross Factor Tracks of the Predator For Love or Honor Bound Tales of the Yellow Silk Element of Surprise Seas Aflame Ice Flotilla High Altitude Low Opening Tangles of Truth Shadows in Replay Flag of Her Choosing Tidal Trap Dangerous (Poetry) Executive Firepower The CARLA Conspiracy The Wreckchasers Minerva's Shield Nike's Chariot Apollo's Plague Abandoned Game Over Mercury's Wings Before the Dead Walked Books coming soon: The Samuel Clemens Affair Pearl and Topaz By the Moon Darkly Broadmoor Manor Neptune's Trident Operation Sovereign Primary Weapon Saturn's Fire Tails of Thaddeus Enchanted Mesa Eagle Blue Last Guidon Excess Baggage Container Carta Codex Shipwreckers Romeo Tango The 5x5 Gang Desert Salvage

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      Book preview

      Seas Aflame - Derek Hart

      Seas Aflame

      by Derek Hart

      **********

      Smashwords Edition

      Published by

      Derek Hart on Smashwords

      Seas Aflame

      Copyright - 2005 Derek Hart

      All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

      This book is also available as print

      **********

      Table of Contents

      Dedication

      Foreword

      Preface

      Acknowledgements

      Introduction

      Prologue - Fierce Competition

      Chapter 1 - The Winds of War

      Chapter 2 - A Café and a Girl

      Chapter 3 - Knock About

      Chapter 4 - Plenty of New Customers

      Chapter 5 - Losing Cause

      Chapter 6 - Uninvited Guests

      Chapter 7 - Occupation

      Chapter 8 - Seas Aflame

      Chapter 9 - Grossman Takes Command

      Chapter 10 - Cat and Mouse

      Chapter 11 - Unauthorized Visit

      Chapter 12 - Grossman’s Plan

      Chapter 13 - Danger’s Hour

      Chapter 14 - Already Outmaneuvered

      Chapter 15 - The Maquis

      Chapter 16 - Tragedy Strikes

      Chapter 17 - Risking Everything

      Chapter 18 - Royal Navy Hospital

      Chapter 19 - I’ll Be Back

      Chapter 20 - Hunting the Fox

      Chapter 21 - Dearly Beloved

      Chapter 22 - To Sea in Wooden Boats

      Chapter 23 - Tides Turn

      Chapter 24 - Luck Runs Out

      Chapter 25 - Missing in Action

      Chapter 26 -Home is Where the Heart Is

      Afterword

      About the Author

      Notes

      Critical Acclaim for Derek Hart

      **********

      Dedicated to JoBeth Watson,

      a very dear friend, a sparkplug of energy,

      always with a positive outlook, who never gives up,

      and a cutie – inside and out!

      Foreword

      The 1936 Olympics, held in Berlin, are best remembered for Adolf Hitler’s failed attempt to use them to prove his theories of Aryan racial superiority. As it turned out, the most popular hero of the Games, even among the German people, was the African-American sprinter and long jumper Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals. During the long jump competition, Owens’ German rival, Luz Long, publicly befriended Owens in front of the Nazis. 1936 also saw the introduction of the torch relay, in which a lighted torch was carried from Olympia to the site of the current Games.

      The 1936 Olympics were the first to be broadcast on a form of television. Twenty-five large screens were set up throughout Berlin, allowing the local people to see the Games for free.Basketball, canoeing and team handball made their first appearances, while polo was included in the Olympic program for the last time.

      Thirteen-year-old Marjorie Gestring of the United States won the gold medal in springboard diving. She remains the youngest female gold medalist in the history of the Summer Olympics.Inge Sorensen of Denmark earned a bronze medal in the 200-medal breaststroke at the age of 12, making her the youngest medalist ever in an individual event. Hungarian water polo player Olivier Halassy won his third medal despite the fact that one of his legs had been amputated below the knee following a streetcar accident. Rower Jack Beresford of Great Britain won a gold medal in the double sculls event, marking the fifth Olympics at which he earned a medal. Kristjan Palusalu of Estonia won the heavyweight division in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

      For the Olympic yachting events, the largest fleet of sailboats ever seen at the Games was gathered at the Baltic seaport of Kiel.Most of the yacht racing in the 1936 Olympics was fleet racing where identical boats competed in a series of eleven races, counting nine and discarding their worst two results. In those races, there were no umpires or referees.

      Sailboat racing, however, like every sport, does have its rules.Yacht racing rules allow boats to pass and maneuver closely without colliding, by placing an obligation on one boat to keep clear of, or give room to, another boat. Which of any two boats had to give room or keep clear depended on their relationship to each other. When many boats were maneuvering closely, for example at the start of a race, or when rounding marks, a good knowledge of the rules could be used to great advantage.

      A competitor who inadvertently infringed a rule might take a penalty by sailing clear of all other boats as soon as possible after the incident, and making one or two complete turns.For touching a mark, the penalty was 360 degrees and for breaking a when boats meet rule, the penalty was 720 degrees.

      When one competitor believed another had infringed a rule and not taken a penalty, he issued a protest.He informed the other boat immediately, by shouting protest and displaying a red protest flag.

      After the race a panel of judges met to hear evidence from the competitors involved and from any witnesses.At the Olympics, five International Yacht Racing Judges appointed by the International Yacht Racing Union formed a jury. In fact, there were 17 members on the Olympic jury, but panels of five heard protests.

      Although most rule infringements were resolved during the races by boats taking penalty turns, quite a few ended up being decided in the jury room. With up to sixteen total races each day, each of the three jury panels heard four or five protests per race day.

      The stage was set for some brilliant displays of yachtsmanship, but sadly, as with several other more publicized events, even Olympic sailing fell prey to dispute and acrimony, stemming from the heightened political conditions of the day.

      In less than three years, all of Europe would be embroiled in World War Two.

      **********

      Preface

      On board ship, eight bells signified the end of one watch and the beginning of another. Watches were four hours long. At eight bells the watch changed.

      Eight Bells

      Lesley Nelson-Burns (1870)

      My husband’s a saucy foretop man,

      A chum of the cooks, don’t you know?

      He put his head down the cook’s funnel,

      And shouted, come up from below.

      Eight bells, Eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below;

      Eight bells, eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below.

      My husband once shipped in a whaler,

      And sailed to the far Northern Seas;

      But being a bold-hearted sailor,

      He cared not for ice, sea, nor breeze.

      Eight bells, Eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below;

      Eight bells, eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below.

      At the end of each watch though his fancy

      Was to get to his bunk quickly, oh!

      For he wanted to dream of his Nancy,

      So called to the watch, hi below!

      Eight bells, Eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below;

      Eight bells, eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below.

      But now he’s no longer a sailor

      He often wakes up in the night

      And thinking he’s still on the whaler

      Calls out with the greatest delight-

      Eight bells, Eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below;

      Eight bells, eight bells,

      Rouse out there the watch from below.

      **********

      Acknowledgements

      Thanks go to Ann and Michael Sims, who operate a wonderful bookstore named A Book for all Reasons in Lowestoft, the most easterly town in England, on the coast of Suffolk, with their German Shepherd dog named Tess.Mike was a tremendous help supplying research materials for this book, so the author owes him a great debt of gratitude.

      To Mary Holstead, who contributed several real-life incidents to add to the telling of this tale.Once again, here’s an avid reader who actively participated in helping the author create a viable and believable story.

      To British Military Powerboat Trust - Husbands Shipyard, Cracknore Hard, Marchwood, Hampshire, England – for their fantastic research assistance and especially Chairman Charles Du Cane, who provided detailed answers to the author’s many inquiries.

      Cover Art provided by David M. Burke

      **********

      Introduction

      Guns at Sea

      by Imtarfa

      Let me get back to the guns again, I hear them calling me,

      And all I ask is my own ship, and the surge of the open sea,

      In the long, dark nights, when the stars are out, and the clean salt breezes blow,

      And the land’s foul ways are half forgot, like nightmare, and I know

      That the world is good, and life worth while, and man’s real work to do,

      In the final test, in Nature’s school, to see which of us rings true.

      On shore, in peace, men cheat and lie - but you can't do that at sea,

      For the sea is strong; if your work is weak, vain is the weakling’s plea

      Of a first offence or I’m only young, or It shall not happen again,

      For the sea finds out your weakness, and writes its lesson plain.

      The liar, the slave, the slum-bred cur - let them stay ashore, say I,

      For, mark it well, if they come to me, I break them and they die.

      The land is kind to a soul unsound; I find and probe the flaw,

      For I am the tears of eternity that rock to eternal law.

      I love the touch of the clean salt spray on my hands and hair and face,

      I love to feel the long ship leap, when she feels the sea’s embrace,

      While down below is the straining hull, o’erhead the gulls and clouds,

      And the clean wind comes 'cross the vast sea space, and sings its song in the shrouds.

      But now in my dreams, besides the sounds one always hears at sea,

      I hear the mutter of distant guns, which call and call to me,

      Singing: Come! The day is here for which you have waited long.

      And women’s tears, and craven fears, are drowned in that monstrous song.

      So whatever the future hold in store, I feel that I must go,

      To where, thro’ the shattering roar, I hear a voice that whispers low:

      The craven, the weak, the man with nerves, from me they must keep away,

      Or a dreadful price in shattered nerves, and broken health they pay.

      But send me the man who is calm and strong, in the face of my roaring blast,

      He shall tested be in my mighty fires, and if he shall live at the last,

      He can go to his home, his friends, his kin, to his life e’er war began,

      With a new-found soul, and a new-found strength, knowing himself a man.

      **********

      Chapters or other Divisions

      Prologue

      Kiel, Germany

      The Summer Olympics (Yachting)

      August 1936

      Fierce Competition

      The sailing events of the 1936 Olympics were held at Kiel in the Schleswig-Holstein district of Germany, where the Baltic Sea formed a wide bay ideal for water sports. The sea and the sky blended into a nearly uniform blue-green expanse, pierced only by rows and rows of dazzling white sails.All the nation’s best crews went out to get a feel of the conditions and make sure their boats were in tip-top order.The courses were on the Aussenforde, or Outer Bay, and radiated in all directions from the starting line.

      In the Six-Meter Class, Tyrian Tempest was the yacht representing the United Kingdom, skippered by Nathan Talbot, a 23-year-old from Ramsgate, England, home to a royal harbor with a longstanding tradition of fine yachting.Talbot was blond haired and blue eyed and could easily have been mistaken for one of Germany’s proud Aryan sons.True enough, his ancestors were probably Nordic in origin, but Nathan was distinctly British and proud of his country.Talbot’s father had been a renowned barrister, but had passed away while Nathan was completing a literature degree at Cambridge University.Now his mother owned and operated the King’s Gate Grill in Ramsgate, famous for delicious homemade soups, scrumptious smoked kippers, and a huge variety of cheeses from around the world.Talbot loved cheese and made no excuse for eating various flavors to excess.

      However, Nathan’s involvement in the sport of yachting happened quite by accident.As a member of the 1934 Cambridge sculling team, Talbot was quite dedicated to making the British Olympic team as a rower.In fact, he was nationally ranked and odds were quite good he would make the first squad.But chance would cast him into a different role.Of course, it all came about because of a pretty girl.On a dare, Nathan volunteered to take a certain gorgeous woman out yachting, without having the slightest clue as to the intricacies of sailing.Less than fifteen minutes after bravely setting out, the boat capsized and his beautiful date ended up in the sea.Fortunately for him, she could swim and in between her exclamations of disgust, the woman made it safely to shore.From that day forward, Nathan Talbot dedicated himself to becoming one of the best yachtsmen in all of England.

      So, when Talbot’s Ramsgate Royal Racing Club was asked to prepare the British Olympic team for the 1936 Games, it was indeed quite a compliment to his skills.Rules were laid down for the behavior of any prospective participant. The definitions used from the 1932 Olympics were adopted and general instructions defined amateur status, while adding some particular qualifications for yachting competitors. The boat crews were required to have attributes which represented participation in the sport as distinct from personal status and which also involved the acquirement of nautical experience through the love of the sport, rather than through necessity or hope of financial gain.

      Now as for Germany, Werner Grossman piloted Fliegen Wahr, his nation’s Six-Meter Class entry.He was a wealthy aristocrat, who was also, understandably, the local crowd’s favorite.Grossman’s hawkish features did not lessen his ability to be uncharacteristically jovial, though this public façade hid a ruthless interior motivation.Grossman was fanatically dedicated to yachting and made no pretense that he would earn his country at least one gold medal.He was also instrumental in designing new features to Germany’s Six-Meter Class entries, always making sure that any alteration was first approved by the International Sailing Association.

      Werner was a proud man of 25, who had discovered a new sense of worth associated with the Third Reich.Hitler had lifted Germany up from the ashes and given the country reason to bask in a newfound surge of nationalism.Grossman was so impressed, in fact, that he had already arranged a commission in the new German Navy, where he taught sailing skills to the flood of new recruits.Admiral Erich Raeder was head of the German Navy and was dedicated to building a force that could challenge the British.Grossman was profoundly stirred by this vision and promised Raeder that he could make a difference.His first goal was to win as many gold medals as possible in Olympic yachting, thereby giving Germany a special moment to bask in international glory.Besides, sailing was not just a sport to Grossman, but his truest passion.

      As it was, Daniel Kragschell of the Netherlands, with his Six-Meter Class Damesschoen, was the contender most experts had chosen to capture the gold medal in this event.Kragschell was a world-class seaman, having circumnavigated the globe twice before he was 26 and was considered a master handler of every class of boat.He had won the silver medal in the 1932 Olympics, only missing the gold by a few minutes in the fifth race.Daniel was determined to make amends.Kragschell was a typical Dutchman in mannerisms, but the antithesis in build and complexion.He was short, dark and swarthy looking, with a growling laugh that resembled that of a pirate of yore.Daniel also smoked an old ivory scrimshaw pipe, with a beautiful lighthouse carved into the surface.It had been with his family for generations and was cared for almost as religiously as his yacht.

      The American’s Six-Meter Class entry, Three For The Stars, was captained by Gary Woodhouse, a huge man who looked like a whaling captain from the 1800’s.Strange as it might seem, his American crew was composed of hearty singers.Every chance they got, the men sang Abalone Moon, Hail to California, or another old sailor’s favorite - Eight Bells.They even sang during the races. When they were not singing they were composing lyrics.This did not mean they were to be taken lightly, however, for Woodhouse and his yacht were listed as top contenders for a medal.

      As one of the last favorites listed, France was represented by one of the few women skippers, Jacqueline Bérard and her Six-Meter Class yacht, the Remonter des Dieux.In the 1932 Olympics, Bérard had proven herself to be a cagey navigator, having only missed a bronze medal by minutes in the final race.Jacqueline never forgot how close she had come and this time also vowed to return to her homeland with a medal.

      These then were the leaders of the pack, which numbered 35 entries representing 12 nations.Everyone was well aware, however, that a combination of starting position, weather conditions, and just plain luck played a powerful hand in the outcome.One boat might not even place in one race, then come back the next day and win.The secret was to participate in every race, avoiding any maneuver that might endanger the yacht.

      The morning of August 3, 1936 began with the traditional fanfare of sailing ships, parading past the reviewing stands in all their resplendent glory.The flags of many nations whipped madly in the winds, bands played vibrant marching music, while the crowds waved and cheered enthusiastically. The first Six-Meter Class race would begin shortly, so Captain Nathan Talbot briefed his crew once again.

      Remember, we have eleven races, Talbot began.After discarding our worst runs, we must win at least two races to even qualify for a medal.

      Reginald Scott, Talbot’s coxswain, grinned and added, Let’s just win the first four, so we can sail around leisurely for the remaining jaunts, what?

      The other crewmen laughed.They were in high spirits and why shouldn’t they be?This was the Olympics, testing the world’s very best and they were part of it.

      Talbot grabbed hold of the main mast and hugged it, which elicited more laughter.Tyrian Tempest is a good fast ship, but let’s not forget the basics.Keep the sail nice and taught, without allowing it to flap, but not too tight.If we let the mainsheet out slowly, the first part of the sail to start flapping is the luff.  Bringing the mainsheet back in until the luff stops flapping will give us the best position for the sail and a trim sail.

      Scott took over from there.That leads to us, lads.We must keep the boat, fore and aft, level at all times.  We’ll have to sit in different positions depending on the point of sail, which means sitting forward on a beat, in the middle on a reach and at the stern on a run.

      It’s all about balance, Talbot added.This means hiking out on a gust and keeping in with low wind while on a run.

      The opening celebration petered out as the yachts lowered their gaily colored signal flags and crewmen began to take their serious sailing positions.The boats maneuvered in and out, around and around, waiting for the start of the first race.

      The markers were huge red buoys, newly painted and sporting yellow flags on top.They would be hard to miss, even in stormy weather, for flashing beacon-lights were also housed in the top domes of the bobbing markers.Each skipper had been given a nautical chart of the race course, locations of markers, and even promontory landmarks.

      Sails unfurled and 35 yachts began to jockey for the best starting position.No one wanted to move too aggressively, in case they strayed over the starting line before the gun went off.So, in an enormous traffic-jam of sailing ships, beautiful sails went up and down, steering was sometimes a matter of inches, and tempers quickly became frayed.

      Blam!

      The starting signal echoed across the bay.

      At this critical moment, the Swedish yacht Jorvik was in the best possible position and surged ahead.Right behind him was the French Remonter des Dieux.Completely out of position were both the American and the German ships.Just as unfortunate, Talbot was boxed in the middle of the pack.However, a gap suddenly opened and presented Tyrian Tempest with a narrow route to escape.The yacht slipped out between two converging sailboats, but as Talbot heard swearing in several different languages, he also knew he hadn’t truly interfered with anyone’s right-of-way, so no protest flags were seen.

      In order to get anywhere, of course, Talbot had to know just when to turn the boat and change course. There were basically two maneuvers that let him do that.To reverse his course he would have to come about, which was relatively slow, since the bow passed through the eye of the wind.

      Talbot would call out, Ready about!

      Then hard-a-lee, since the tiller was pushed to the leeward side of the boat. The boat turned into the wind, and the sail, the skipper, and some of the crew changed sides.

      Another way to turn was the faster maneuver called a jibe. This was where the back of the boat turned across the wind. Since the wind was behind the boat, the sail flipped from one side to another.Talbot had to be careful to control the sail during the jibe, making communication especially important between the skipper and his crew.

      His commands for the jibe were shouted, Ready to jibe! and then, Jibe-ho!

      Talbot was sailing on a beat, the boat was as close to the eye of the wind as possible, about 45 degrees.Scott had the mainsail pulled in, with the boom slightly over the transom.If the boat was pointed too close or high to the wind, the forward part of the sail would luff and flutter, causing a dramatic loss in speed.

      Tacking was turning into the wind.  This was an easier method, as everything happened more gradually than in a jibe.  As the boat came round, and the sail got closer to the wind, it was a good idea to sheet in the mainsail during the turn to maintain steerage. When the boat was pointing directly upwind, the sails flapped until the boat came around on the opposite tack.  

      Progress when sailing windward was done by tacking, changing the direction of the boat from one side of the wind to the other. The boat was close-hauled on the port tack, when the wind was coming from the left, and was close-hauled on the starboard tack, when the wind was coming from the right.Suddenly Tyrian Tempest was gaining on the field and Talbot could see the French boat up ahead.

      Tyrian Tempest was on a reach when the wind was abeam, or at a 90 degree angle.Talbot was sailing on this reach, where they were at an angle between close-hauled and running.The sail was out at about 45 degrees, making it one of the most pleasant and most efficient ways to sail.They were running, or sailing before the wind, with the wind blowing from astern, and the sail was now out at 90 degrees.

      Just to complicate things a little more, Talbot and Scott were becoming familiar with how the wind was acting and which sailing positions, or points of sail, would bestrelate to the angle between a sailboat’s heading, or course, and the direction of the wind. There were three basic courses, including beating, when the wind was from ahead, reaching, when the wind was from the side, and running, when the wind was from astern.

      If Talbot was right, he would always know how to trim his sails, and hopefully make it to their destination ahead of the other boats.The wind was very strong, however, so Talbot decided to reduce the sail area.  With this yacht, a number of storm jibs were provided.  These were jibs of different sizes and Scott helped Talbot choose the one most appropriate for the wind conditions.  They also possessed a furling genoa foresail, which could be easily furled to reduce its size.

      The sails converted the energy in the wind into forward movement of the boat.  The wind caused the sails to take a wing shape, passing around the sail and because the distance was greater on the leeward side of the sail, the wind traveled faster. This meant the pressure on the leeward side was lower than the pressure on the windward side. This pressure difference resulted in a force acting perpendicular to the boom in the downwind direction.  This force could be channeled as a force on the boat pushing it forward and a force on the boat pushing it sideways.  The sideways force results in drift, but was avoided by using a centerboard or daggerboard.

      Jerker Roever, of Sweden, was on his way to an opening victory steering the Six-Meter Class yacht Jorvik, which was quite a surprise considering the field.Even with the French in close pursuit, Roever was never in any danger of losing his impressive lead.However, the battle for third place was beginning to draw the crowd’s attention, for coming up on the inside, tacking with almost wild abandon, came Fliegen Wahr, with Grossman in command.Just slightly ahead of him was Talbot’s Tyrian Tempest.

      The German not only knew these waters and the winds, he also exercised his advantages by moving to the inside.Positioning himself in a long tacking maneuver, Grossman ordered every sail at his disposal unfurled.

      At that precise moment, Talbot desperately tried to tack away, to prevent losing the full power of the uncooperative winds.As seconds passed, however, Fliegen Wahr had gained the upper hand and Tyrian Tempest’s speed dropped away dramatically.

      The German had snatched away the wind!

      By tacking with every move duplicated, Grossman was now gaining on the French boat, leaving Talbot’s sails lifeless and limp.Tyrian Tempest had no energy to move forward and suddenly it seemed as if they were standing still.

      Bloody hell! Scott exclaimed as he slapped his hand on the center hatch.

      The German yacht simply raced on by, sails filled to capacity.

      Talbot just shook his head in shocked amazement.Grossman’s tactic had been executed with pure tenacity, effectively removing the British Six-Meter from contention and positioning Germany for a thrilling seizure of third place.

      There were no points awarded for coming in fourth.

      That afternoon, when the race was over, and all the yachts were back in port, cheering crowds gathered on the Hindenburg Ufer, where the flags of the three finalists were hoisted.After this opening round, the national emblems of Sweden, France and Germany waved majestically in the sprightly breeze, while enthusiastic applause surrounded the winners.

      The second day’s outcome was much the same, with Tyrian Tempest failing to cross the finish line in one of the first three positions, so once again they came away without any points.Talbot’s crew hadn’t made any serious mistakes, but it seemed as if their captain was merely sailing, rather than staking everything on the outcome.This time Germany came in second, with the Netherlands winning and Italy taking the third spot.

      As the crew of Tyrian Tempest came ashore, Talbot looked up at the sky.It’s clouding up fast, Reggie.I wager it will rain tomorrow.

      Scott grimaced.That’s just great.Now we can drown while floundering about.

      His opinion was out before he could bite his tongue.

      Talbot’s shoulders sagged and he started to walk away.

      Look, Nathan, I’m sorry, Scott said as he caught up with his friend.It’s not you.We’re just outclassed.

      Nathan took exception to that statement.That’s not true, Reggie, and you know it.Tyrian Tempest is one of the best boats on the water.It’s my fault we haven’t placed so far.

      Scott secretly felt that Talbot was right, but he would never give voice to such a statement.After all, Nathan and he were very good friends.It just wouldn’t do for him to speak ill of Talbot.

      Nathan stuck his hands into his pockets and gazed out over the harbor.He was struggling with so many issues, not the least of which was this increasing level of self-doubt.Was Reginald Scott only being silent to protect his ego?

      Talbot’s crew turned in early that evening, too exhausted to join some of the yacht crews in late-night partying at the local beer halls.Nathan sat on the balcony outside their room at the hostel, looking up at the incoming storm front.The clouds billowed and swirled.

      The barometer was dropping fast.

      The third day dawned overcast and gloomy.Before the yachts had even completed the first turn, the weather worsened.Grossman was already well out in front, the home water advantage obvious to anyone brave enough to be outside watching the race.However, there was one noticeable difference.Surprisingly, the British yacht was in second place and closing on Fliegen Wahr.

      Tyrian Tempest was really traveling fast, doing 10.5 knots with the wind at 19 knots apparent, and using an 80% spinnaker sail Scott had designed especially for the race.When the wind picked up to 23 knots apparent they were hitting 12 knots. Talbot ordered the spinnaker dropped and hoisted the number two sail.Within two minutes they had to switch to the number three sail.Ten minutes after that they dropped the jib.Then they went to a stormsail and eventually even dropped that.

      Still, they were gaining on Grossman, as Talbot threw conventional wisdom overboard.His tacking maneuvers were tight and with concentration, Nathan matched the German move for move, anticipating when Grossman would alter course.

      Without warning the wind came forward of the beam and Fliegen Wahr couldn’t make headway in the foul weather.Grossman tried to hold the bow at an angle into the waves.

      That was a mistake.

      A tremendous wave scooped up Fliegen Wahr and flipped the German yacht on the beams, landing right in front of Tyrian Tempest!

      Talbot desperately spun the wheel to starboard to avoid a collision.Jibe! he shouted.Tyrian Tempest was suspended on her side, also in danger of capsizing at any moment, as the crew scrambled to port or hung on for dear life.

      The German ship was down, with mast and sails in the water.

      Then just as abruptly it flipped back up.

      We have the right-of-way! Scott exclaimed.

      Not if I hit him, Talbot shouted back.

      The German crew looked half-drowned, but the next catastrophe could not be avoided.Grossman, who didn’t take the time to get his bearings, or check on where the British yacht was, also swung his wheel to starboard.

      Look out! warned Scott.

      With a tremendous display of physical prowess, Talbot put every ounce of strength he had into turning to port.The wind, the boat, the waves, and even the wheel fought him.With such a move born of desperation, it was a wonder the mast didn’t snap in two.Yet Tyrian Tempest was no ordinary yacht and the boat responded admirably.

      It just wasn’t enough.

      Tyrian Tempest’s bow scraped against Fliegen Wahr’s stern, making a horrendous, teeth-grating noise that was heard clear

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