[Intro: steady deck stomps, low concertina, three-part male harmony] [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] WATCH THE WOOL AND WATCH THE LEECH, BUILD THE SPEED BEFORE YOU SQUEEZE. SET THE SHAPE AND LET HER DRIVE, FIND THE GROOVE AND KEEP HER ALIVE! [Verse 1: gritty baritone] [“Baritone Singer”] Hard upon the breeze we go, the jib begins to draw, Start the car for wind and waves, then watch the telltales all. Light air, move the car ahead, build power in the sail, Medium breeze, start on the mark, then tune her on the rail. When the breeze begins to build, move aft and add some twist, Flatten foot and open leech when power must be spilled. If the upper breaks too early, move the car ahead, If the lower breaks before it, move the car aft instead. When they lift together as the helmsman brings her high, You’ve got the lead about where it belongs… now make the bugger fly! [Chorus: strong three-part harmony] [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] FLOW! GROOVE! LET HER DRIVE! KEEP THE WOOL AND LEECH ALIVE! POWER LOW WHEN POWER’S DUE, TWIST THE TOP WHEN BREEZE COMES THROUGH. SPEED BEFORE YOU SQUEEZE FOR HEIGHT, BUILD THE GROOVE BEFORE YOU BITE. WATCH THE SAIL, THE SPEED, THE WHEEL, TRIM FOR WHAT THE BOAT CAN FEEL! [Verse 2: driving work-song rhythm] [“Baritone Singer”] Now trim the sheet and watch the leech, she’ll tell you when it’s right, Bring her in until she’s working at the edge of being tight. Watch the upper leech telltale, trim until it starts to hide, Ease a touch until it’s streaming… that’s the fast side of the line. Flat and steady lets you sheet her close and narrow up the groove, But when the bough is punching waves, she needs some room to move. Ease a touch and add some twist, give the helmsman room to steer, Keep her driving through the water… [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] SPEED WILL GET US THERE! [Chorus: three-part harmony] [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] FLOW! GROOVE! LET HER DRIVE! KEEP THE WOOL AND LEECH ALIVE! CAR FOR POWER, SHEET FOR TWIST, WATCH THE WOOL AND WATCH THE LIFT. SPEED BEFORE YOU SQUEEZE FOR HEIGHT, DON’T CONFUSE “HIGH” WITH “RIGHT.” POINTING MEANS FUCK-ALL, MATE, IF EVERY OTHER BOAT’S AHEAD! [Verse 3: fiddle enters, rolling rhythm] [“Baritone Singer”] Once the boat is up to speed, the inhaul earns its turn, Bring the clew toward centerline and watch what height you earn. Flat water, steady pressure, bring her inward bit by bit, Narrow up the sheeting angle while the boat can carry it. Watch the speed as you bring her in, don’t choke the slot between, If she climbs but starts to slow, you’ve hauled her in too keen. When the chop begins to throw the bough and steering isn’t clean, Ease the inhaul, open up, put power back into the machine. [Bridge: stripped back, low three-part harmony] [“Baritone Singer”] Every puff and every wave Changes what the boat will crave. Pressure builds, then watch the heel, Pressure fades, restore the feel. Marks will get you close again, But marks don’t know the wave or wind. [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] THE MARKS ARE ONLY WHERE YOU START, THE MOVING BOAT’S THE BLOODY CHART! [Final Chorus: maximum three-part harmony] [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] FLOW! GROOVE! LET HER DRIVE! KEEP THE WHOLE DAMN BOAT ALIVE! CAR SET RIGHT AND SHEET JUST SO, INHAUL ONLY TILL SHE GOES. BUILD THE SPEED, THEN TAKE THE HEIGHT, OPEN FOR WAVES AND TRIM FOR FLAT. WATCH THE WOOL, THE LEECH, THE WHEEL, FAST IS SOMETHING YOU CAN FEEL! [Outro: instruments gradually settle into a perfect groove] [“Baritone Singer”] The wool streams aft, the leech runs clean, The car is set, the slot can breathe. The sheet is right, the inhaul’s set, The helm has found the groove at last. Boat speed’s up, the numbers climb, One final inch… and now she’s right. [Music locks into a smooth, perfect groove] [“Helmsman Singer”] That’s it. [“Baritone Singer: satisfied”] Don’t touch a bloody thing. [Beat] [“Skipper Singer: dry”] Ready about. [Silence] [“Baritone Singer”] …what? [“Skipper Singer”] Prepare to tack. [“Three-Part Harmony Singers: exhausted”] FOR FUCK’S SAKE! [“Skipper Singer”] LEE-HO! [Concertina stab, frantic boot stomps] [End]
