Annual Dinner Culminates Fabulous Year Highlights Include Judging Awards & Change of Watch Ceremony

Daniel Ramia & Lee diPaula accepted three awards for The Washingtonian -- Best in Class 4, Best in Division I and the highly coveted Members’ Choice Award -- in their first Judging event. Another couple that’s quite accustomed to collecting awards is P/C Kathleen & P/C Bill Birdsall. Their lovely Chimera netted Best in Class 2, Best in Division III and Best in Fleet, Division III once again. Marvin Hall & Claudia Redmon have taken the P/C W. Douglas Weir Award (Best in Fleet, Divisions I and II combined) home before, and they’re not strangers to the other awards that Claudette garnered which included Best in Class 4, Best in Division II and the well-deserved Judges’ Choice. Their efforts netted a score of 99%. Two years ago, P/C Ken Jordan poked a screwdriver into the hull of Hope. Now she is the pride of North East, recipient of the Loretta Mills Memorial Award (Best in Class 2, Division II) and a dream made a reality for owners Audrey and Ron Edwards. Cheryl Spaulding saved Rose from the burn pile, and hubby Jim brought her back to First Place condition in Class 6, Division II, writing a book about the odyssey as the work progressed. Susan & Mike Haines’ Magnolia captured a First Place in Class 2, Division II in her first foray into the Judging arena. Mike also deserves an award for recruiting more new members than I can count. New members Cindy & Dale Genther didn’t have to go far to pick up the Best in Class 6, Div. II award for Boreal. They live in Rock Hall and keep their beautiful sailboat at P.E. Pruitts marina. The Lankford’s Horizon also took a First Place in Class 2, Division II. Glad you made it to Rock Hall, Captain Mark & First Mate Sue! The big smiles on the Ulsakers’ faces are for Flyer, a standout in Class 1, Division II. Wanda holds on to the First Place plaque, and Chris has a word or two with R/C Patrick Dunlap. “Let Go” perhaps? Metanoia, owned and lovingly restored by Dave & Clara Ochipinti was another first time entry in our Judging that delighted her owners with First Place in Class 2, Division II. Congratulations! Bill & Janet Nash brought Tiffany, their jewel of a runabout for the Judging in Rock Hall, but they also own Purple Cow. Bill is President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania - Harvey’s Lake Chapter of ACBS. It was delightful to meet Bill and Janet, members since 2001. Each year, the Commodore selects the location for the Commodore's Dinner and Annual Meeting. For the past few years, the event has been held "down Bay" at Miles River Yacht Club, but I decided to move it farther north since many of our members come from Pennsylvania, and a steadily-growing group call a town named North East their home. So, on the evening of Saturday, October 30th, over seventy of our members gathered at North East River Yacht Club for cocktails and dinner with an ample serving of “pomp and circumstance” on the side. The choice of locations proved to be a good one, since easily one-third of the group was within a short drive of their home or boat. A few lucky folks had parked their RVs in the parking lot, and seven or eight couples occupied rooms at the local Holiday Inn Express. Everyone else had to drive home in the fog. North East River Yacht Club is a lovely facility. Our members enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres upstairs, then gathered in the dining room below for dinner and the awards presentation, followed by the Change of Watch ceremony and presentation of new officers’ flags. I had the pleasure of presenting gifts to my officers, Board members and Committee chairpersons. I received a lovely gift in return. It was a terrific evening for everyone, as I hope these pictures illustrate. Thanks to everyone who attended the dinner and shared in the happy pandemonium of the end of one season and the promise of another. P/C Ken Jordan, Chairman of the 2005 Nominating Committee, Conducts the Installation of Officers. Now, if we can only hold on to that promise...until the snowy, blowy winter months give way to spring! Kay & Dwain Watkins received The Voyager Award this year for once again cruising 1000 statute miles in their boat, Fancy Free. (I’ve never noticed, but is their dinghy named Footloose?) Back