Our annual meeting went off last Saturday morning so smoothly, it was scary. One member reported that it took 59 minutes from gavel to gavel. The Dorothy Stewart award, our most prestigious, is not given every year. This year we have a recipient: Andy Holmes. Rarely do I drive into the club parking lot and not see that distinctive Maine license plate “Tbear” and know that Andy is somewhere on campus working to make our club a little better. Congratulations Andy – the honor is well deserved and a sincere thank you from me for again filling in as the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club scribe while I was checking out my Nova Scotia roots this past week. 

Our treasurer Susan Haney gave a full and comprehensive financial report on where we stand and it was all good news. We are fortunate to have so many talented people ready and able to assume important roles in the management and smooth operation of the club. Our club manager, Jim Matel, deserves kudos for keeping us on the straight and narrow. We are sorry but understand Bob McCann’s decision to leave his leadership role as rear commodore. Lee Krow, who has been around a while, has filled the void. Lee has had experience in yacht club matters; I believe he is past commodore of a Philadelphia club. Also new to the slate is Greg Muzzy, a fellow Sprucewold rusticator. We are in good hands.

The weekly Thursday evening social was again well attended. The hors d’oeuvres were organized by Carole LaFoutaine and Sally Smith. New members, Susan Whitehouse, Bettina Bepler and Daniel Hare, along with not so new Joan Rubel and Joan Chase, supplied the fodder and that is stated in a very complimentary way – in a word – delicous! Tonight a group of Edgecomb residents, organized by Susan Burkett and Diann Ring will do the honors and our last in-season nibbles on Sept. 6 will be organized by Susan Morris. 

The Classic Boat Race was spawned in the fertile mind of Bob Vawter a few years ago. Win, lose or draw, it is a fun race. The day was a classic Maine beauty, the air was light so my contribution as ballast on Phil Brooks’s Fiddler was minimal but we finished within regulation time. There were three divisions; the Admiral Fleet – over 30 feet, the Corinthian Fleet – under 30 feet and the Boothbay Harbor One Design fleet. There were a record 29 entries. Dave Tew was first in Rosalita in the Admiral Fleet, Chris Malliet in Step Lively took second and Martin Thomas in Lady M was third. In the Corinthian Fleet, Susan Forsyth in Barcarola was first, Sandy Taft in Gemini, second, and Tom Johnson in Shooting Star, third. 

The Boothbay Harbor One Design fleet had Patty Berger in Wildfire take first, Eric Hakanson in Charisma second and Carol Matwiczyk took third. The recent awards dinner recognized the following sailors for the 2012 season. In Commodore’s Cup Series Red Fleet in Firebolt took first, Bill Hunt in Ghost took second and Ken Colburn in Momentum, took third. 

Lee Krow, Blue Fleet 1st Salute, Bob Vawter, 2nd Pirouette, Chuck Koch, 3rd Sage, Brad Collins; White Fleet: 1st Charisma, Eric Hakanson, 2nd Wildfire, Patty Berger, 3rd Fraulien, Debbie Swan. Commodore James Geier Memorial Cup (winner of the racing fleet), Firebolt, Jim Hunt; Commodore George Cochrane Cup (winner of the cruising fleet), Salute, Bob Vawter.

Throughout the summer months sailboat races are held on Thursday afternoon and on Saturday: referred to as the Thursday Open series and the Saturday open series. And the winners are; Thurs. Open – Red Fleet: 1st Firebolt, Bill Hunt, 2nd Dotsy, Sally Lloyd, 3rd Breakaway, Tom Clark; Blue Fleet: 1st Sage, Brad Collins, 2nd Pirouette, Chuck Koch, 3rd All That Jazz, Cathy Latta; White Fleet: 1st Wildfire, Patty Berger, 2nd Fraulein Debbie Swan, 3rd Christina Eric Hakanson. Saturday Open Red Fleet: 1st Firebolt, Jim Hunt, 2nd and 3rd places N/A, Blue Fleet: 1st Gigi, Thad Hutcheson, 2nd Pirouette, Chuck Koch, 3rd J22 Jim Mega; White Fleet: 1st Galatea, Tom Tavenner, 2nd Wildfire, Patty Berger, 3rd Charisma, Eric Hakanson. 

Saturday is the Boohtbay Harbor Yache Club Day Afloat Day. This day is probably one of the most popular days on our club calendar. It is sort of a scavenger hunt on the water. Posters are placed on floats within the boundaries of the search. Knowing something about the devious mind of Jim Hunt, chairman for 2012, I might suggest that you have family and friends aboard to help solve the poster messages. Bring the kids and make your dinner reservations A.S.A.P. They are supposed to be in – yesterday. The competition starts on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. I’m sure there will be a gathering anchorage location for lunch. There is a poster at the hostess desk. Have fun and good luck.