Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club

Mon, 06/04/2018 - 11:00am

Parking has certainly been the issue of the day every day but the outlook is bright as construction is nearing the end and with the return of regular spaces on both sides of the road. Did you know that the grass lot on the pond side is owned by the Oak Grove Condominium folks and through their generosity we are allowed to use it for parking for special occasions only. When it is available we will give notice in this column and we do ask that no one parks in the entrance alleyway or the whole opportunity is lost.

That also brings up questions about the hill down to the clubhouse from the parking areas. We do have a golf cart for the expressed purpose of helping folks whose walking is challenged by our elevation. There is a bell system on a post to signal for the cart but it may be out of order at this time. If so just call the front desk and Hristo will get a driver to meet you (speak to him personally for the return trip). Until last year the golf cart was shared with kitchen dumpster trips but a new and larger vehicle now provides comfort and no smells from yesterday’s trash run.

I only saw one golf cart run last Saturday but without it, 130-plus members accepted the commodore’s invitation for a wonderful reception and goodies from Chef Raymond and his staff. The weather was fabulous and likewise the food and drink. Thanks to the flags for their organizational efforts.

We have a busy sailing season coming up with eight major regattas planned. Three of them are youth centered and will bring many young racers to the area needing a place to stay over one or more nights and a major shortage of available hotel rooms. To handle this problem, Sarah Clark has once again volunteered to coordinate the willingness of many of our members to make available their spare beds or bedrooms in mid-July to house the youth and sometimes their parental escorts as well. If you can help call or email Sarah at 215-499-8383 or email at bhychousing@gmail.com.

Charles will be needing volunteers for safety boat operators for the fall season of the High School sailing program. Please keep in mind this unusual opportunity to get out on the water as well as to provide vital assistance to the success of the program. The timing is in the afternoon, after school, and lasts well in to October. Call Charles at 633-5750 to get on the list.

Over at the construction site, “hurry up to meet the deadline” was the order of the week. Paving the water line cut and the parking lot dodged the raindrops and impacted parking and access to the club but we have endured and survived. The invisible work centered around completion of the flooring (carpeting and hard floors) and installation and connecting of such infrastructure items as WiFi, telephone, POS, video, and other seldom remembered “vital to operation” needs. You do know that POS stands for Point of Sale – the system that handles both dining room and ships store sales. By the way the new dock, ramp and float is really impressive and utilitarian.

Louise has me playing bridge whenever I can during the winter and I often bid but hate to play no trump hands. Don Tomlin, our resident bridge maestro, will be offering classes on Tuesdays at 9:30 (he says I can learn) and you can play: Duplicate at 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Party Bridge on Thursdays at 1 p.m.

If you are a writer, real or aspiring, you can join the group Mondays at 1 p.m. and the mahjong gang meets Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. For wannabe sailors there is a keel boat class scheduled for the 13th. Call Charles for information.

Not much else to do this week or any other week unless you plan to enjoy one or more lunches or dinners created by Chef Raymond and served in the dining room with the most fabulous view in all of the Boothbay Harbor region. Friday night is Prime Rib night and of course Thursday is the cocktail party with the past commodores providing the goodies this week and the current Flags and board of directors doing next week.

If your group hasn’t signed up yet, the neon clipboard is in the entrance hall just waiting for your log in.