The first of the season meeting of the Men's Luncheon Group at the BHYC was well attended. Messrs. Druce, Rapelye and your writer arrived in GIG, a 30-plus-year-old launch proudly owned by John Druce. The landing at the BHYC float and the passenger egress from GIG was not a thing of beauty, but considering the combined age of the three sailors is 265, all is forgiven. With practice, we will improve.

The Cocktail Party last Thursday was also well attended and the hors d'oeuvres served up by our Board of Directors certainly matched those of the Flag Officers the previous week. Please remember that there is a special informational meeting at 4 p.m. this afternoon, Thursday, June 26. The meeting is for the purpose of explaining the recommended by-law changes in our constitution. Dr. Bob McArtor, who chaired the committee, will be on hand to answer our questions. Make a night of it. Stay for cocktails and dinner.

The Stitch group got underway last Friday with seven ladies creating works of art. If I had a talent with scrimshaw, I might join them.

The Men's Sailing group had an organizational luncheon meeting and it looks like a rosy summer. They will convene promptly this week on Friday at 11:30 a.m. They will have a limited menu from which to make a luncheon selection. The rationale being: let's get lunch behind us and get out on the water - makes sense. We can eat anytime but the Maine sailing season is all too short. Many club members are graciously volunteering their sailboats for our pleasure. The fog which has plagued us lately has delayed the commissioning of some sailboats. Let me be the first to appeal to Ralph Drayer, our man in charge of weather. Any way you can fix it Ralph?

VC Tony O'Neill files the following report on the Shakedown Cruise: "Eleven boats participated in a weekend of fog. The following yachts were either at Robinhood (Riggs Cove) off the Sheepscot Friday evening and/or at Seal Cove above the narrows on the Damariscotta River on Saturday. Millbank (Fleet Captain Peter and Linda Gale, Fiddler (Phil and Claire Brooks), Adagio (RC Howard and Rebecca Levitan), Caseys (Chris and Jane Roberts), Fadeaway (JP and Kaki Smith), Pelagos (Fleet Surgeon Bill and Hillary Friedman), Sunshine Al and Sharon Rofe with a full crew of members), Midsummers Dream (Laird and Jeanne Cleaver), Auriga (Glenn and Ann Wise), Cynara II (VC Tony and Mimi O'Neill). New members Erik and Sandi Hakanson visited the fleet Saturday evening at Seal Cove on their 19' launch. No one got lost or ran aground."

Our fellow member, Paul Tagliabue gave superb after dinner talk last Sunday evening. Paul is a former NFL Commissioner and presented a well thought out, insightful talk on his many years as commissioner of the league. It was quite apparent that the NFL made a wise choice in selecting Paul to guide them through their adolescent years.

Our junior staff readied themselves, last week, for the 2008 Junior Sailing and Tennis Programs and are now working with the young folks, helping to insure the continuation of our BHYC sailing and tennis tradition. These youngsters are our future whether on the water or on the tennis court - support them. This program is open to ALL area youngsters.

There will be a Board of Directors meeting with committee chairs at 0900 this Saturday morning. The Annual Float Party is also on tap this Saturday evening and it may be overbooked for dinner which is not unusual. Any member is certainly welcome to come to the club for cocktails and an opportunity to view the classic BHYC vessels which will be tied up to our floats. It happens this Saturday night, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Carol Cochran reports that eight members joined her first Monday morning Yoga class at 0900 last week. She quoted Woody Allen; "To be a success in life, all you have to do is show up." This busy lady, who is also in charge of the clubhouse flower arrangements, writes a correction in a previous column. Credit should be given, not to her, but the 21 volunteers who have signed on to create arrangements over the summer. If anyone has flowers blooming in their garden, please drop a bunch or two in the club laundry room. There is a bucket waiting for your donation.

Looking ahead to next week - the Fourth of July occurs on Friday and we are offered a ringside seat for the fireworks. The dining room will be open, and reservations are recommended. Looking even further ahead, the Cabbage Island Clambake is scheduled for August 17th - but - the deadline for your reservation is July 14th. Call in to the BHYC Office for your reservation; you will be billed for the event. We all had a great time last year. Let's do it again.