What a season 2012 has been. Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club produced winners this year. The third running of The Lobster Run included two Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club boats and our own Ken Colburn took all the marbles. We had two entries this year: Panache, Capt. Bob Scribner; and Apparition, Capt. Ken Colburn. Both vessels did themselves proud in the 2012 Lobster Run. 

I’m particularly tickled to see Panache back in the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club fleet. She sailed under the name Amersee and was owned by former members Ken and Barb Eldred. Natalie and I in Sea Star cruised with her a couple of times. 

I miss Barbie up on the foredeck while at anchor in the evening playing her bagpipes to the delight of all within earshot – about a three mile radius. She was restored at Luke’s Boatyard with the help of my nephew/stepson/godson Rich Perry, and the renamed Panache. It’s a small world. Thank you, Bob Scribner, for bringing her back. 

Add to that accomplishment Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club hosting the Maine State Opti Championships and for the second year in a row winning top honors. Thirteen-year-old Jacqueline “Jax” van der Veen won this year. She is a summer resident at Spruce Point and in her third year with the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Jr. Program. I love her Opti’s name, Jax Attack. These kids love sailing and the results are gratifying – character is being developed. 

I could ramble on with these marvelous memories but I’ll conclude with the thought that we are all building our own marvelous memories, so enjoy!

The last in-season Thursday Night party was again well attended and honors go to the West Harbor Pond and Samoset Road group. The spread was organized by Susan Morris and included participants, Hap and Susan Henniger, Ken and Kate Culbert, Bob and Joan Chase, Dave and Lynne Nordhoff, Margaret and Bob Reiser, Glenna and Bob Clark, Susan and Tom Maynes, and Susan Morris and Chip Newell. They produced a wonderful table and allowed your writer to get a good base before returning to my own cooking, which does not have bragging rights. Next and following weeks are on a bring-your-own hors d’oeuvres format. 

Last Sunday evening was bitter sweet. The decommissioning ceremony certainly reflected our dedication to yachting and the sea around us, but also our respect for the best country on earth. It was a wonderful sight to watch the flags come down with the full sun, descending in the west, reflecting off Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club boats at their moorings and our beautiful harbor framed by Spruce Point in the background. Pretty close to a full dining room enjoyed the closing buffet. Fortunately we are able to gradually work our way into the winter season. Launch service is at an end, but rowing your dingy out to your mooring for the next month gives you much needed exercise, bridge and mahjongg continue as do our Thursday evening parties. 

Just think – we have a month and a half to prepare our Halloween costumes.