| The Judges have conferred and have come up with the following scores.
If you just can't stand the suspense, go ahead and scroll down to the end
of this announcement. Otherwise, bear with us a bit and we'll give you a
minute-by-minute breakdown below.
Please keep in mind that the points are actually minutes, so a minus is a good thing
(cutting minutes off the overall time) and a plus is a bad. Thus, a minus is positive and a plus... Oh, never mind...
Regarding Scylla and the sandbank
Both entries mentioned Scylla and chose to avoid her--probably a wise decision! Also, both entries
mentioned the sand bank. The Nausicaä log acknowledged its presence and remarked that
the wind would drive the boat into it if the crew was not careful; the Zealous Zephyr log mentioned
the crew's conscious choice to sail between it and Salamis. Thus, we declare the scores on Scylla and the sandbank
to be a dead heat between both crafts.
Also, neither crew actually made use of the amphora of Chian wine, although it was mentioned. Thus, no
points for use of Chian will be awarded. However, the Judges wish to enter a special commendation for
self-restraint and general cleverness in the first race, since the crews are both likely to need that wine
on the way home, via the second course! (Of course, it would seem that Maecenas was treating
his own body as a vessel for some kind of wine toward the end of that first race, so maybe that
commendation for self-restraint is a bit premature...)
Score for Nausicaä
General
Offered pleas for protection from obstacles and stiff northwesterly breeze to votive figure: -2
Use of skein of wool for knitting: -1
Use of oil amphora for footrest: -1
Exceeded 1,000 words: +2
But did so very charmingly: -1
Bonus point for nice invocation: -1
Sphinx
Didn't spot that Sphinx has gone Jeopardy style! +2
Lovely feminist revision of the ancient riddle, though: -1
Defeated according to traditional myth: -5
Gorgon
Use of mirror to navigate: -2
Use of arrows to divert Gorgon's gaze: -2 and -1 creativity bonus
Defeated according to traditional myth: -5
Sirens
Use of wax earplugs: -2
Use of rope to tie Verona to mast: -2
Use of owl to distract Sirens: -2
Reckless endangerment of owl (since craft could have passed without owl's intervention): +1
Bonus point for sticking one's own fingers in crewmate's ears (Eeeeeew!): -1
Defeated according to traditional myth: -5
Harpies
Harpies mentioned briefly at beginning of log: -2.5
OVERALL SCORE
Gains: 37.5
Penalties: 5
Total: -32.5 minutes
Score for Zealous Zephyr
General
Gave thanks to votive figure after navigating obstacles: -2
Sphinx
Defeated according to traditional myth: -5
But added clever, co-operative twist: -2
Gorgon
Use of mirror to watch Gorgon: -2
Use of baklava basket: -2
Combined with skein of wool: -2
Use of oxhide shield as hiding place: -2
Reckless endangerment of crew (forgot nobody was steering while everybody was hidden--anything
could have happened!): +5
Defeated according to traditional myth: -5
Sirens
Use of rope to tie Maecenas to mast: -2
Use of wax earplugs: -2
Knowledge that traditionally Sirens don't affect women: -2
Attempt to double-cross crewmembers through use of arrows to cut rope: +1
Foiling attempted double-cross with olive oil: -2
Defeated according to traditional myth: -5
Use of weather conditions to drive boat faster: -1
Harpies
Use of baklava to distract Harpies while stumbling to cave: -5
OVERALL SCORE
Gains: 41
Penalties: 6
Total: -35 minutes
CONGRATULATIONS, ZEALOUS ZEPHYR, ON VICTORY IN THE FIRST RACE! | 
polites of Athenai: 7/28/2001,1:38:42< prev next >