I continue to be impressed with the tenacity of the crews working on the Sailing and Education Center as well as the folks who do the scheduling of work. With the building totally closed in from the weather and temporary propane heat,  workers can enthusiastically do whatever task needs their attention. Things like wiring, plumbing, wallboard, ceilings and connecting to the services already completed in the modular units. With this kind of atmosphere  every day is an exciting new standard. It won’t be long before they will be able to cut into the road for water connection and string the service wires from the CMP mains. The electricians have established the meter box and the service into the building and are waiting for the hookup as stated.

The Sailing Club  dry suits are back from being repaired and re certified in Rockland and only the ability to put docks and safety boats in the water is holding back the start of the School Sailing program. Charles reports that the students are ready to go and anxious to hoist the sails and get flying. Statistics do promise that weather conditions suitable for frostbite sailing will eventually happen and this BHYC sponsored activity can get rolling for 2018.

On Sunday just past, on the way home from church, we did see a safety boat en trailer ready to head to Blake’s for “spring”  commissioning and subsequent duty with the Sailing Club. We also saw all 10 of the practice 420s out of the casino on them “lawn” and ready to be rigged and launched this week when practice begins. Yes, believe it or not, snow or no, their first regatta is the 31st ... that’s Saturday.  

This time of year is also when club management reviews the certification and qualifications of its on water staff where safety is our most directing mandate. Our stewards are perhaps the most qualified and experienced team anywhere in Maine. Paul Pinkham, Ron McLaren and Jim Stormont are again ready to take the helm of our launch when the first cannon sounds.

In the Junior program roster, Aidan Clark and Caleb Gray both have level 2 US  Sailing instructors certifications. Tori Thompson will receive her level 2 this spring after a year sailing on the Stanford University Sailing team. And Chris Liberti, our Junior Sailing program director, has earned his Level 3 Head Instructors Certification.  All of our instructors have at least a level one ticket.

But there’s more and that more comes in the qualifications of our club manager who oversees all of the club’s staff and activities plus he is the coach of the Scholastic Sailing Team which we sponsor. So what are Charle’s qualifications? He has US Sailing Level 3 Race Coach Certification.,US Sailing Keelboat Instructor with Advanced Trim and Spinnaker Endorsements. He is a certified US Sailing Judge, US Sailing Race Officer, and has USCG and DHS Facility Security Officer Certification. A little bird told me that he was voted Coach of the Year three times in a row from 2011-2013 by the ILH (Interscholastic League of Honolulu).

Word comes that Scotty's daughter Ellen is facing some health challenges and we send our concerns and best wishes to both father and daughter.

Let’s clarify and correct an error from the past. The next social event is Thursday  April 19 at the Shea Residence jn Wiscasset. Be there.