Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/169

 he changed, or when the sculler has palpably gone ont of -his course, that the signals of the pilot come into play. Same scullers seem to make up their minds to leave everything to their pilots; the result is that their boats are never in a straight line ; first they go astray to one side, and then, when signalled back, they take a stroll to the other side. Such scullers naturally handicap themselves greatly by thus losing ground through these tortuous wanderings. The simplest method of signalling by pilot is to hold a white handkerchief. In the right or left hand it means ‘pull right or left,’ respectively. When down, it means ‘boat straight and keep it so.’ If the pilor gets far astern, or if dangers are ahead which are beyond pilotage, taking off the hat means ‘look out for yourself,’

When wind is abeam, a pilot cutter can materially aid a sculler by bringing its bow close on his windward quarter, thereby sheltering his stern from the action of the wind. Races such as that of Messrs. Lowndes and Payne for the Wingfield Sculls in 1880, when Mr. Payne did not row his opponent down until the last mile had well begun, should remind all seullers that a race is neyer lost till it is won, and that, however heaten you may feel, it is possible that your opponent feels even worse, and that he may show it in the next few strokes.