The days are shorter and folks are heading home because in many parts of the country school started this week. 

The weather is beautiful, probably the best time of the year – cool nights and comfortable, beautiful days. Such was the case last Saturday when the Dancing Diva’s offered their Sizzling Summer Soiree. A large crowd of enthusiastic revelers enjoyed the best music of the century and Traps finest culinary offerings. Thanks to the committee of Jane Scharff, Brenda Blake, Cynthia Edwards, Ann Hughes, Susan Henniger, Claudia Greene, Maggie Newton, Janet McDonough and probably many more.

A rather small but enthusiastic crowd enjoyed Danny Beal earlier in the week and we remind you that he will be back for his final gig of the summer on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

Our Past Commodores gathered for their annual dinner meeting day before yesterday and there were moments for reminiscing as well as an opportunity to tell the incoming flags just how the club should be run! Isn’t it about time that our illustrious group joined the International Order of the Blue Gavel, a worldwide organization of Yacht Club Past Commodores? Our good friend the late Welles Steane was a strong proponent of this suggestion.

Friday, Aug. 24 is the Classic Boat race and Luncheon, and that Friday night is the always fun Racing Awards Dinner. All of the folks who have raced during the summer gather to relive their successes and to offer excuses for their not so successful efforts… and in any case it's always fun for all. Geoff McCuskey and Eric Hakanson lead this event which includes a broad cross section of our membership.

Let us not forget that the morning of Saturday, Aug. 25 is the annual meeting. This is the time of year when we select our leadership for next summer, when we thank outgoing officers and directors for their service and when the entire membership gets a glimpse into the financial workings of our organization. It is an important part of your membership to be present and contributing.

The cruisers are back from Canada and it proved to be a wonderful excursion. Weather was not the greatest, but then what is cruising without a few weather challenges. The cruisers will be here for dinner next Wednesday night, August 29, when the annual Screw Up Awards ceremony will be held. This involves many well-earned trophies/prizes for such things as the Sunny Al Award for the boat that collected the most lobster buoys during the season and other long sought after awards.

The junior program is over for the summer season and a successful one it was. We had a larger number of enrollments than last year and our new docks and floats were a magnificent contribution to the young people’s water access. Thanks Paul for your magnificent gift. 

While on the junior program subject there is still one more important element to go for 2012 – the High School Club Sailing Team which we operate for the youth of Boothbay Harbor. Sally Lloyd will return for her third session as coach and we understand that as many as 12 students from the local schools will participate. These folks sail our 420s four afternoons a week and race in frequent regattas around the state on weekends. 

We can use members’ help in piloting safety boats (whalers) during the practice sessions. To volunteer call PC Andy Holmes at 882-5525 or email cruises@gwi.net. Members are welcome to watch them practice either from the Department of Marine Resources lawn or from your own boat in the inner harbor. The sail is from 1530 to 1700 daily and on Wednesdays they start at 1330.

Bring your contributed party snacks tonight to the weekly social event at the club and plan to stay for dinner.