Have a look at the
challenge we set the 10 Clipper yachts for the 22nd of January
2012.
Winners of the best Burns Night image goes to Geraldton -
we loved this image of them tucking into some delicious haggis to
celebrate the birthday of our famous bard!
We also thought the image from our own crew was braw - you
can't get more traditional than a Burns Night in a kilt!
The poetry was very difficult to judge, we were all of a
blether about the winner but we settled on Qingdao as the
winner - and they deserved it:-
Qingdao’s Ode to a Haggis
'Twas the week before Burns' Night
And 'cross aw the fleet,
Nae breath could be feel-ed,
Nae wind fur thi sheets.
Tea time approach-ed,
Oatcakes join Haggis, a gift,
Rid of corned beef,
a treat, our spirits t'lift.
Oh Spirits, indeed, for a wee dram
Brought smiles ti our oon Scot,
Who read Shelkirk's Grace
As he poured out thi tot.
The Quaich was pass'd roond,
Bow ti stern, back ti bow,
And we all had bonnie cheer
Honorary Scots on Qingdao!
An honorary mention must go to Derry-Londonderry as the decision
between these two split the judging panel!
Derry-Londonderry’s Ode to a
Haggis
Wee sleekit conrin haggis
Hidden away in some crews baggage
To Australia, right down under
Together with other Scottish plunder
We so look forward to eating you
Wi oatcakes, whisky and Irn Bru
As we race to Indonesia, where it’s so
hot
We are just dying for a wee Scottish
tot
Rabbie Burns day we hold dear
On 25th Jan every year
Haggis, tatties and neaps on our plate
Yons a breagha way to celebrate
You can read the rest of the entries (in no particular
order) below - they were too good not to showcase:-
Edinburgh Inspiring Capital – Ode to
the Haggis
Wee sleekit courie timorous beastie
In our rope locker did you feastie.
From Tristan da Cunha we hosted you;
On the good ship Edinburgh you grew and
grew.....
Until you out-manned the crew.
Your naughty behaviour,
Your wheeching round t' boat,
Caused no end of problems for skipper and
crew.
The rope locker was hoatching with your
kind
Our lines in a guddle, haggis giggling
behind.
We tried to wheesh you,
It was no good,
And you were eating all the fud!
So on a braw moonlich nicht
We cast you out to the rest of the
fleet.
Where you were sent
To earn your keep.
To arrive for Burns night upon each
boat
Thou are sent to bring fun to the folk.
Oh great chieftan o' the puddin' race
Go forth to bring a smile to every
face.
Singapore - Kinships Born Afar
As we sail these many oceans
Far from any distant shore,
We yearn to see a landmass
Be it grey upon the dawn.
In lieu we sail in solitude
Not a sea-maw to be seen,
To the tune of straining sheets,
Wild seas, and a touzie at the wheel.
Now is the time to ponder, of a cozy home
afar
Where minny waits and worries some more
With thoughts of her only sumph of a lad
Till he tills at the biggin door.
Oh how we wish for a strong Scottish
breeze
To move us onto the land we love,
So with stieve nick-nackets and quaigh in
hand,
We'll crack onto the wee small morn.
So, "Slainte Mhath!" all my chiel
crewmates,
Who have shared so much that us bond
And with the blessings of all Scotland,
Share leal friendships, truly long and truly
strong.
Auld Scotland awaits us one and all
As we ode to the haggis quill in hand,
And be it time to honour Rabbie Burns
Gie her a haggis, and sae let the Lord be
thankit.
Visit Finland – Ode to the Haggis
Och eye the noo! A haggis steu,
with sproots an an neaps an tatties
too,
furr a finer dish ye could nay wish,
an age old treat that's quite delish,
But so fine a plate is nerr the same,
withoot a cirrtan distiiled grain,
a peattie brew with a golden hew,
that warrms a chilly belly throo,
Nor some soutt strang boots an some woolen
socks,
and a set a pipes and a taarrrtan
smock, t
o roam the craggiee peaks and dales,
amid the darrk driecht frozen rain and
hail,
Forr the pride and and strenth oa highland
man,
and the age and standing of his clan,
a' always said to be known best,
by the long red hair upon his chest..
So a dram for mee and a dram for you,
and a good llong dram for the haggis
too,
an I'll slice the tatties with an old
skirndoo,
and be a scotsman throo and throo.
Welcome to Yorkshire's Ode to the
Haggis
Memories ignited - watches united - twa
become wan
Twa watches wha hold their very ain
plight,
Twa watches, drookit an dry,
pass like ships in the night,
Port an Starboard, Left an Right,
For yin eve - Burns Nicht - thon' watches
unite,
Tae celebrate the land o' highlands and
bonnie heather,
Twa watches, in the middle, brought th'
gither,
Twa become wan - tis wrang, but feels
right.
Wan Haggis on which we unitedly feast,
Wan shared equally nae greater, nae
least,
Wan fabled hobblin' Scottish beast,
Wha's legend like Scotland, shall ne'er
e'er cease.
Oor time th' gither must surely come to an
end,
Yin watch tae bed, the ither on deck tae
send,
Oor bellies full - firm an' uncreased.
Far away frae the Scottish Territories,
As we rumble, tumble an' race across the
seas,
All shall become but memories,
But fine yins, grand yins, which shall
ne'er flea,
Stories will be passed doon
generations,
Tales o' our united feast tae the finer
nations,
Stories that'll ne'er die - oor journey
etched in history.
The great chieftain o' the puddin'
race,
Supported by neeps an tatties an a wee nip
to taste,
But hold ye wan minute - less o' the
haste,
This meal wid appear tae be a special
case,
Sailin' under the flag of the shire of
York,
This crew had wan addition tae their
fork,
Yorkshire Puddin' combined - fer sure nane
went to waste!
Wha would hae thought such a humble
dish,
Could impact so widely - much more than
delish,
Wha would expect such a catalyst,
For aw that makes us appreciative,
But united on thon high seas,
It's the simple things that please,
Remember that ye land lubers - amongst yer
lives be simple riches.
Gold Coast - Ode To A Haggis
Our great captain starved in a sailing
race
Before us ye feed yer auld
face
Stomach, Greet for no more boefing
lentils
Ye keek in the scullery
Resulting in nothing but harm
His knife still empty looks for a
delight
To cut into something meaty, Pure dead
brilliant
Gallusly digging into the galley at midnight
Like any man with little on his
dish
And then what a glorious
sight
Warm and smiling is our,
Rich
There born frae
behind
After a small stretch
arrives
Delivered from the hidden most corner
He finds a mockit can to fill his crabbit
belly
All bent with lables
lost
The auld cans contents masked by mystery
Bethankit still he
hums
But from the rustic cylinder falls
Tumbling oot an earthy mound
Clasped inside a casing of
stomach
He waits for the kettle to
whistle
No animal legs, arms or heads to cut
Poke, Gonnae no' dae that!
Yin powerless to know whits in it or care
He just dish's out this hearty
fare,
As the auld stomach rubbles disapear
Thon round bag was just what he needed
But finishing soon with a grateful prayer
God, Give me more haggis... Thon's a real captains meal
Geraldton - Ode to a Haggis
It is a meal so hearty and so full
Of men at work with hammer and tool
Of men at harvest with sickle and sheave
Of men who work with no reprieve
It is fuel, it is strength, it is wind and it
is fire
To drive us on through glen and through
shire
And what else? Well it is hearth and home
It is family and friend and stranger not
alone
Christopher himself would be drawn to the
time
When dinner is served to a sweet old chime
So I say to you haggis of whom we can never be
away
It draws us all home when we run astray
Our love for you never falters and never
sleeps
Especially when devoured with tatties and
neaps
