Αγγλική Ρεγκάτα στον κόλπο του Ναβαρίνου, 11.01.1934
Σπάνια κινηματογραφική λήψη του κόλπου του Ναβαρίνου καθώς και της γύρω
περιοχής που περιβάλει το λιμάνι, με το Ναύαρχο William Wordsworth
Fisher, Διοικητής του Αγγλικού Στόλου στη Μεσόγειο, να παρακολουθεί τη
ναυτική ρεγκάτα. Λίγους μήνες νωρίτερα, στις 20 Οκτωβρίου 1933, είχε
εκπροσωπήσει την Αγγλία στις εορταστικές εκδηλώσεις στην Πύλο για την
επέτειο της Ναυμαχίας του Ναβαρίνου, καταθέτοντας στεφάνι στο μνημείο
των τριών ναυάρχων, το οποίο είχε εγκαινιαστεί 3 χρόνια νωρίτερα.Ακολούθως,
τον Αύγουστο του 1934, ο κόλπος του Ναβαρίνου θα επιλεχθεί από τον
Ναύαρχο Fisher για να γίνει η "άγνωστη" ετήσια Ρεγκάτα του Αγγλικού
στόλου της Μεσογείου ( 6th August -13th August 1934).
Σε αγγλικά αρχεία εντοπίσαμε μια μοναδική περιγραφή της ετήσιας αυτής ρεγκάτας από ένα μέλος των πληρωμάτων:"Navarino
Bay, which had already been the scene of two great sea fights -
firstly, when the Athenians defeated the Spartans in the year 425 B.C.,
and, secondly, when the Turkish and Egyptian navies were completely
wiped out by the English, French, and Russians in 1827 - was destined to
be the setting for yet another battle, this time of a vastly different
nature; for here, during the second week of August, 1934, the
Mediterranean Fleet held their Annual Regatta.
Preparations
had begun while we were still at Malta, crews being got together and
going away for preliminary trials, but we did not start intensive
training until the commencement of the cruise. Up to that time we had
been going away once a day, during the dog watches, but when we arrived
at Dragamesti, a definite programme was mapped out and crews went away
regularly morning and evening. At Zante, mile and half-mile buoys were
laid out - (the former, incidentally, disappeared mysteriously one
night, to be later traced to the hut of a local fisherman) - and
practice races were arranged. These gave us some idea of our progress
and at the same time made us more familiar with the ‘atmosphere’ of
actual competition. At Argostoli and Corfu, the same routine was
continued and by the time we arrived at Navarin Bay for the actual
Regatta we felt confident of doing well and had especially great
expectations of the Stokers’ and Boys’ Cutters and the Seamen’s Whaler.
Remembering
that we had obtained a very good second place in the 1933 Regatta at
Bermuda we saw no reason why we should not do equally well in 1934,
despite the fact that we had ten ships to compete against, (three of
which were 10,000-tonners) whereas last year there were only four.
Ideal
weather conditions prevailed at the opening of the Cruiser Regatta on
Tuesday, 7th August, when the boats lined up for the first race at 9
o'clock in the morning. Guardrails of all ships were well lined with
spectators ready to cheer their respective crews as they passed down the
course, each striving for the lead.
[...] The Regatta over, the Fleet left Navarin Bay on Monday, 13th August, arriving at Malta two days later".
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