Breaking news first and foremost, the annual meeting is happening on Saturday and that means we will be electing a new slate of officers for the coming year. As required, the nominating committee has produced the fruits of its labor and the headline is that Gardiner Rapelye is nominated to join the chairs as Rear Commodore behind Dan Hare and Rob Wheeler. Other nominees are Linda Burley for secretary, Jay Haberland for treasurer, Marion Flores for finance committee chair, Nancy Spinney and Kathy Hantzis for finance committee and new directors: Jon Dunsford, Don Tomlin, Tom Johnson, Sharma Schacknow and Michael Smith. Lastly, Ken Bradsell, Bill Logan, and Sandy Leonard have been name to the constitution and by laws committee. Ralph Drayer served as chair of the nominating committee.

The past week has been filled with sail races and many other club events including the wrap up weeks of the Junior Program. The story on the Juniors banquet appears elsewhere in the Register but with the new Sailing and Education Center now in the works, it is an exciting one.

Wednesday night races saw the Preston’s sailing Sky Rocket take first place in the J-80 class followed by Silkie (Curtis) and Blue Skies (Latta). In the BHOD  class Wildfire (yes Patty did it again) followed by Sarabande, Bittersweet and The Reach.

Our reporter on the scene filed this report on the Classic Boat Race postponed  from Friday due to rain but held on Saturday: Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club's Classic Race was held Saturday Aug. 19 in light to moderate winds with a figure 8 course starting at Tumbler Island and touring around Squirrel, Burnt and Mouse islands.  The pursuit style format with the faster boats starting later in the hope that all boats catch each other by the end is popular with classic yachts.  The event is open to boats 30 or more years old, designed earlier, or in the spirit of traditional or classic yachts.  Five Boothbay Harbor One Designs competed with a Friendship Sloop and a Nat Herreshoff inspired Pisces 21.  

The boats started in 4-5 knots of wind from the West which shifted about a half hour after the start to Southwest then South.  Most boats used the wind shifts to head to the west or Southport side of the bay before rounding Squirrel Island.  After rounding Squirrel Island the wind increased to 6-8 knots for the remainder of the 5.77 nm course.  The Pisces 21 Sunfish sailed by Mike Gaffney led from start to finish and was chased down by the gaff rigged Friendship Sloop Lady M finishing among the megayachts anchored in the harbor in a lovely juxtaposition of old versus new. The BHOD Poler Express skippered by young Colin Poler rounded out the fleet sailing with his father Dwight and siblings.  The order of finish was 1.  Sunfish,  2. Lady M,  3.  Charisma,  4.  C Fever,  5.  Bittersweet,  6.  Saraband,  7.  Poler Express.

On Sunday the final Commodores Cup events were held under beautiful blue skies with variable winds. The Pursuit Race saw as winner Commodore Bob Scribner sailing Caliente followed by Jerry Maben in his new mount Prom Dress. The J-80s had two races with Ken Colburn sailing Ghost II taking top honors in both and our members all the way from Great Britain- Madeline and Craig Preston finishing second in both races sailing Sky Rocket. Silkie (Curtis) and Firebolt (Hunt) split thirds and Wired (Poler/Baker) and Blue Skies (Latta) rounded out the fleet.

The dining room looked exotic Sunday night for the Bourbon vs Whiskey Dinner with one long classic candlelight table and a beautiful view to sea. Monday night was the Rails of War Authors Dinner. How about the crowd for the Opoid conference?

Now for the future: On the 27th we have the Classic Car Show which is always a draw and a parking challenge. Claire Tomlin has planned the second annual Tomato Fest for the 27th starting at noon. You can’t imagine the creativity that Claire puts into this event ... not to be missed.

On the 28th Don Snyder will present a photographic lecture on the Galapagos Islands and on the 31st you can get shot and a shot at the annual Flu Vaccination clinic organized by Dr. Paul.

Reservations for all these events can be made by calling the front desk at 633-5750. Incidentally the desk is now on fall hours which start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

See you at the annual meeting on Saturday.