Luke Scott

Captain Harry Dolos!!!

You are a salty sailor admired as much off the water as you are on it...and that is something very special to consider!

Captain Dolos (the name derived from a minor incident between yacht and breakwater in Hout Bay, where the yacht came off second best after all aboard had stepped off to safety - that yacht's mast still stands proudly on terra firma in front of the Hout Bay Yacht Club as their flag pole!) is a real participator and club man.

Over the years, you and your loyal crew aboard FTI Flyer have participated in pretty much everything on offer at RCYC, and beyond that you've given back so much through your contributions to the bridge and race management, as well as your wonderful contributions either tickling the ivories yourself, or arranging a number of other jazz musicians to entertain us all at the club.

I recall a number of evenings where you've played with the club rock band, The Rockers, with club stalwarts Vitor Medina, and the late Brian Gardener amongst others. That was always a bit of a lottery, but a lot of fun nonetheless! Certainly nothing that another beer could not sort out.

Simply looking at the loyalty of the FTI Flyer crew, through years of sailing wonderfully, through years of sailing a little off the pace, and now recently right back on the money after the refurbishment of the hull and straightening of the crooked rudder, says so much about the magnetic and magnanimous character of the Captain.

As a Canadian hailing from Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, better ooot than in, as they say.

Over many years, I have built up a wonderful respect and rivalry with Cpt Dolos, primarily based on the fact that we both sailed yachts with similar handicaps, and both enjoyed the freedom of being out on the water together and against each other. So many close races, always a pleasure, never once an issue.

In the events that led up to the refurbishment of your hull and the discovery of  the crooked rudder - being the taking on of water through the shaft-hull penetration on your return trip from yet another Mykonos Regatta, overnight in early 2013 - you sent out an early morning pan-pan cautionary call for assistance. Our yacht was a couple of miles ahead at the time and I was on the helm, with a sleeping crew. When I heard that call on the emergency channel, an overwhelmingly large wave of shared and happy memories with you completely engulfed me. Swept away by the rich emotion of the moment, I think my yacht had automatically turned around and made full steam ahead to your stated location, without me even knowing! As we know, you controlled the problem and we were never required to rendezvous with you, as you made your way back with more appropriate assistance.

Amongst many other sometimes quirking honours and achievements on the water, I think you have the honour of being the only yacht in the last Rio Race to completely avoid the violent storm on the second night and third day out, before returning to call it a day for other reasons.

Of course, there is your magnificent wit, the mischief and warmth. We have spent countless hours of revelry in the club, plotting a course we could share together to enjoy our sailing even more...thanks for your advice and so many ideas, and for your perennial support.

I love the naughty glimmer in your eyes, I love the fun we've had together and will still have...

I enjoy thinking about an imaginary log, sounding the shallows and depths of conversations we have: from the outrageous banter, across any variety of topics, to the intellectual and mathematical - not least ratings and statistics! We've had a ridiculous amount of fun, and always allowed room at the mark for differences of opinion.

Like the rhythm of the ocean, and the fair breath of wind in our sails, I look forward to continuing making wonderful lifelong memories with you!

Thank you for your love, generosity and fine fair spirit.

Love

Luke