Dear Readers,

Have you recovered from the weekend's activities yet?

I know, conventional wisdom says the “season” is supposed to be over when our friends from away head home after Labor Day.

But, like a lot of things that are touted as “conventional wisdom,” the idea that our Midcoast Maine season ends on Labor Day is just flat wrong.

For instance, over in East Boothbay, more than 100 admiring spectators watched Saturday morning as Hodgdon Yachts launched one of the most spectacular sailing yachts in the world.

Named Comanche, the 100-foot-long vessel is designed to be the fastest monohull sailing yacht ever. And it sure looks like it. Even with out a mast and sails, its sleek hull just seems to scream speed. Some publications suggest Comanche will do 25 knots plus. Wow. (See photo on page 1.)

Hodgdon's marketing department calls the launching “one of the most significant sailboat builds in the USA since Ranger was launched at the Bath Iron Works in 1937.”

We will find out in a few months, when it is rigged and entered in Australia's famed Rolex Sydney Hobart race in December.

Once again, Hodgdon Yachts has shown the world they can, and do, build the highest of high-tech yachts.

“Tim Hodgdon has done East Boothbay proud,” said Danny Stevens, a veteran mariner and boatbuilder.

Meanwhile, Paul Coulombe's Boothbay Harbor Country Club hosted some of our favorite retired sports celebrities and 36 golfing groups in the 24th edition of the Boothbay Charities Classic, all to benefit Maine's Special Olympians.

The golfers and other sporting fans opened their wallets for the chance to rub elbows and line up putts with former greats from the gridiron, the diamond and the ice rink.

In addition to the golf, attendees bid on donated sports items, dined on lobster and participated in other fundraising games to raise a record $60,000.

Sure, all causes are great and deserve our support, but there are few causes that are more important than helping to put a smile on the face of a Special Olympian.

Meanwhile, as Tim Hodgdon and his talented crew launched their super fast yacht and the golfers raised money for some very special friends, the Boothbay Region Land Trust hosted more than 85 friends and family at its annual “Great Hike” at the Ovens Mouth preserve.

It was a special family event offering a chance to get together and hike the spectacular trail at one of the region's most scenic nature preserves. Then there was some food, a few games and music to boot. Pretty neat.

Thanks to mother nature, and a group of unique events, our friends and neighbors in the Boothbay region enjoyed a great weekend.

Let's all hope for a few more before the leaves fall and, well, you know the rest.