Captain Fergus runs the race

Captain Fergus knew he had about just a day to complete the race. All the other boats had left the bay but he needed the supplies otherwise the crew will rebel. It happened to himbefore, once in Nemo Bay when they almost threw him overboard save for the timely intervention of the pumpkin.
“Dear, dear orange pumpkin,” the captain murmured. “Who had put it near the chests?”
Despite the loathsome surroundings; mouse droppings, and flying cockroaches, Captain Fergus had remained where he had dropped from the slippery hands of his captors, calm and unmoved. He had sat in the droppings despite his white captain’s suit and calculated his chances from fleeing from the angry crew. A promise did it, “I will fetch you food at the next bay,” he had said looking at his captors in the eye without blinking. “That’s the arrangement I made and I will not change my mind or the shopkeeper will feel deceived.”
"They wouldn't mind grape jelly with their bread," he said to no one in particular. All the laborers were busy packing the few items he had bought. And the shopkeeper was busy totaling the cost of the items for him. "That is all I could get; no peanut butter, no marmalade."
The sailor dropped the rope just as the captain jumped over the fence and ordered for the boat to sail.
"Where is the food you promised?" a rowdy sailor said removing his dirty head kerchief and threateningly tying it into a knot. The Captain looked on in a calm manner. Then he removed the bundle from the sack, took out his penknife, and slid opened the box.
The Aroma of freshly baked bread mixed the dreary, moldy scent on deck.
Faces changed from frown to grin and sailors grabbed their oars as they rowed to win the race.
“Come and eat something first,” the captain admonished.
“No.” the ringleader said, gesturing to stop the other sailors from stopping rowing. “We will past half the team before we eat. We have just a day and who cannot fast for one more day?”
Looking at the ringleader’s murderous face, the sailors went back to work, not thinking about what had started the rebellion in the first place. They were not hungry any more, they felt hunger anymore. They had a new purpose and that was to win the race. Rowing the boat was their goal now and passing half the racing boats was enough motivation to let them forget their hunger.
Captain Fergus stood in awe of the change of trend, thanking his quick judgment of the situation and the reliable shopkeeper who allowed him to buy on credit whenever he was in need.
“Look,” the captain said stumbling over the pumpkin as he ran on deck to the stern. We have made it, there are only two ahead of us,” he pointed with joy.
“There is only one ahead and it is resting, I guess the sailors are having dinner but we are not eating until we are ahead of them,” the ringleader said still rowing and not turning to even turning to look at the captain.