DOWN EAST YACHT CLUB

2019-2020 – CELEBRATING 54 YEARS of BOATING FUN!!!!

The Beginning – June 1966, a group of yachtsmen at the Boatel Marina dock (now the Tugboat) was laughing, telling jokes and having a great time. A brainstorm – why not start a “FUN CLUB” for boaters? A room was offered by the Boatel and the club, with 13 members, was initiated. Over 50 years later, the Club burgee can be seen along the East and West coasts with members enjoying the “FUN CLUB” and its activities year around.

• Club Cruises - power and sail – all are welcome                                                                
• Annual Cruise from Boothbay Harbor to Northeast Harbor
• Annual Mini Cruise – exploring other Maine harbors                                                                                    
• Year round get-togethers via land and sea                                                                                 
• Launch and Haul out parties                       
• Picnics/Socials throughout the summer
• Day Tripper Events
• Winter Ski weekend
• Winter Florida gathering
• Moorings and Dockage at the Tug Boat Inn in downtown Boothbay Harbor, Maine
• Mooring share program along the coast

Commodore’s Message 

October 20, 2020

Greetings to all Down Easters,

First, I’d like to welcome aboard all our new members who have joined this fall. You will find your club is indeed a “Fun” club even though many gatherings have been temporarily curtailed by Covid-19. But be ready and jump in to volunteer and join the many activities we hope to be having by next summer.

Thanks to Fleet Captain Brent Pope for a great summer cruise and to George Hamilton for filling in for Dennis Hopkins and organizing an equally great Mini-Cruise. We all wish Dennis and Toni were still in Maine to enjoy these activities, but I understand he and Toni are now well settled in SC.

Covid-19 continues to interfere with the desire of all of us to have regular gatherings. Since so many events have had to be cancelled, the Board recognized that the membership requirement to attend 2 events was not possible. The Board voted to temporarily suspend the attendance requirement through the end of the year. However, it is expected that sponsors should now mentor new members more closely through their first year. If sponsoring a new member be sure to use the latest application form on the website.

We were very saddened to learn of Pete Yesmentes recent passing as he was a great planner of the many Day - Tripper events we have enjoyed for a long time. He will certainly be missed by all of us. Who knows what next summer may bring but we could use a good volunteer to help maintain the tradition that Pete so well established.

But on a brighter note, Dick and Brenda Wood have donated their mooring in Mill Cove, Trevett by Sawyer’s Island to the Club. The Board accepted their kind offer, and it will be maintained by the Blake’s along with the club’s other moorings. It will be marked Private as well. Specific location information will be issued later. This could make a great day-trip destination especially if you dingy over to the Trevett store for lunch.

Your club also tries to support local community events. This year the Board voted to donate $500 in Alice Thompson’s memory to the restoration of the Alice Hodgdon Thompson house at the Waterfront Preservation park.

Our website is one of the strengths of our club. Use it and check it often for news, minutes of meetings, financial and member information. Debbie Arkley maintains it well but needs each of us to ensure the content is current. Log in instructions were repeated by Jane in her October 8 email.

Despite the setbacks by Covid, the club still had a great summer and continues to be the “Fun” Club. YOU are the ones who make it fun and we must all help each other keep it that way. Together we make a great family! And let’s all thank Jane, “The Great Communicator”, for doing such an outstanding and tiresome job of keeping everyone so very well informed of all the club’s “doings”.

Use common sense to follow our state’s guidelines and stay healthy. That is one reason Maine is doing so well.

Best to everyone,

Ron Richardson

Commodore

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME – come join the fun.