On such an occasion, a dozen boats went off like so many shots at the starting order, each striving to outpace the other amid the beating of drums on the vessels and cheers of onlookers on the Banks.

每当这种场合，十二艘船如箭在弦，一令即发，在船上的击鼓声和岸上观众的呐喊声中力争超越对手。