Team DFL, the colorful women’s team that has tried to lose the Boatyard Bar & Grill’s Regatta to benefit CRAB every year since 2007, is back this year with a new boat, new costumes and a tradition-shattering crew addition.
Team DFL’s new theme, “Let them Eat Crabcakes,” was hatched by founder Sara Aiken during local Bastille Day Celebrations.The five female crewmembers have fashioned Marie Antoinette costumes, and will be joined on the water tomorrow (Saturday, August 23) for the first time by a man.
Aiken enlisted Angus Phillips, the ex-Washington Post sailing writer who last year was DFL’s coach and mentor, to join the sailing squad after DFL officially failed to finish the 2013 race. Aiken said if DFL fails in its effort to bring up the rear this year, Phillips will be shown the guillotine.
By finishing too late to make the time deadline last year, DFL failed for the second straight time to come in dead last. “We have lost our groove,” said Aiken, “and we’re doing everything we can to get it back.” She said the team’s mission from the start has been to make sure no one comes in last in the CRAB regatta by accident. Lately, competition for the dead-last spot has sharpened in intensity.
In 2012, an unscrupulous competitor started the race an hour late and was nowhere in sight when Team DFL crossed the line in the false belief it was dead last. Last year, Aiken’s squad was having so much fun prancing around the deck in War of 1812 costumes, the navigator lost track of the clock and arrived at the finish after race officials had gone home.
Team DFL’s boat, the Pearson 27 Saor, has been replaced this year by a sleeker Sabre 34, Elan. “We’re moving up to a faster slow boat in the hopes we can at least make it to the finish line this time,” said Aiken. “And by adding a man to the crew the ladies can blame him if we don’t lose.”
Ladies, we like the way you roll.
