Welcome one and all to Babylon's First Annual Regatta on the Euphrates. We have designed a very challenging course for you, and those who survive will be invited to compete in coming years.

You all have been given a kit, including nautical charts of the area (rough map with drawings of sea monsters, shipwrecks, etc), trail mix, and various chants, prayers, and petitions to Enki, the god of fresh waters, and Pasag, a minor god and protector of travelers. Since Enki is a major god, I suggest you get his attention through the intercession of Pasag. Though bulls are a typical sacrifice, it would be a bit cramped to attempt this onboard a yacht. I have in the past, sacrificed Cheetos to the goddess Cornellia, with varying degrees of success.

Between Mari and Hana, the only thing to worry about is where the buoys, er, amphorae direct the ship in a direction lateral to the flow of the water. You see, the water and the wind both come from the northwest. When you turn lateral to the water, the wind will also be coming from off the beam. Otherwise, you will be sailing before the wind.

Now mount your hosses, er, ships and wait for the signal.....the ram's horn.