The Dragon waits. This time I position the boat hook outside of the life lines. I have the sheets set. I hold the Sparrow steady on her course. With steely eye I bear down on the hat, aiming along the length of the aluminum shaft.
Timing is all.
Cautiously I coax the Sparrow to bear. Smoothly we approach the target, lance at the ready. The boat hook slices keenly through the waves, plowing into the hat at over five knots. As the boat sails into the trough the hat slides up the pole. I lift the tip high and let the hat slide back to my hand.