The Southport Yacht Club mourns the loss of long-time director Norma Smith. She directed the program for many years and under her tutelage we took the Maine State Championship as well as other competitive sailing events throughout New England. She was able to see second generations pass through her program. Young sailors continued to sail as adults and benefited from her kindly discipline. She was missed when she retired and we will cherish her memory. We offer our sympathy to all her family.

This year's junior banquet was dedicated to her memory and a new sailing award for dedication and love of sailing has been established.

The Arts and Crafts Show is over for another year and, judging by the number of people who visited, it was another success. We thank all of the contributors who were willing to take the time to display their art and set up their crafts. The show does not achieve success without the help of those willing to help set up and break down and spend a couple of hours helping with the visitors.

Special thanks to Pauline Dion, Sharon Mote and Gail Nassif who organized the opening reception Lucinda MacCormac and Carol Allison who helped with publicity and Carol Lingard and Will Brinegar who sorted out the sales, Toni and Fred Helming for the flowers and help with the buildings, and William Jacobs and the sailing staff for preparing the building for the weekend activities. Your gift of time is genuinely appreciated.

We have reached the end of the sailing class season and the morning and afternoon class and their parents or grandparents gathered at the Southport Town Hall for the closing banquet. The sailors were dressed up in summer finery and sat at a long table. The instructors had plenty of opportunity to poke fun at themselves and show some pictures of the classes in session. Awards were handed out for racing prowess as well as seamanship, sportsmanship and improvement.

Seamanship for the morning beginners was given to Isabelle Abaldo, Intermediates, Tim Reid and Juniors Kunal Tiwari. The sportsmanship cup went to Emma Rideout in the morning class, David Wolllins in the afternoon and Wyatt Colby in the juniors. Most Improved awards went to Patrick Tobin - morning, Emily Bryant-afternoon and Sam Lloyd - juniors. Racing awards were as follows: The season awards went to Jasper Houston and Annie Britton in Turnabouts, Chester Jacobs in Optis and Sally Lloyd and Kunal Tiwari in the 420's.

The Commodores Cup went to Tristan Berne, The Glidden Cup to James Smith, and The Helming cup to Sally Lloyd the Norma Smith cup to Sarah Nutt and the Coppolla cup to Willy Leathers. Congratulations to all for a fine season and thanks to the parents who coordinated the banquet.

The building is quiet now and the boats are stored for the winter. There are a few stray pieces of clothing on the railing if your child is missing anything.

On a special note, the Southport Yacht Club Junior Sailing Foundation has committed itself to the age of technology. Next year, applications for the sailing program will be available on the Web site in January.(Southportyachtclub.org). They will not be mailed unless specifically requested. If you have not found this fount of information about the club, take some time on a regular basis to check for updates about the club.

The Mark Island Race was held last Saturday on a beautiful afternoon for sailing. Two races were held and after a tie breaker, it was determined that first place went to Ben Leoni in the Lloyds J-29, second place to Leif Lorentzen and Charles Nelson in a J-24 and 3rd to the Jacobs in a Rhodes 19. Thanks to Jim and Fred Helming for acting as race committee.

Tuesday evening Bridge will continue as long as there are interested players. The potluck dinner will be held on the Tuesday after Labor Day.

The Annual meeting will be held on Saturday, August 25 at 9 a.m. and the closing receptions and awards ceremony will take place later that day at 5 p.m. We hope to see you all then.