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The club opening is just a two weeks away, and we are ready. The facility is ship shape due to many hours of hard work by our employees and volunteers.

Please extend a warm welcome to Bill Richards, our new Club Manager who will start on 3 May. Stop by and introduce yourself if you haven’t already met Bill.

The annual Spring Cleanup was held on 20 April, and we had a record volunteer turnout. A “great” breakfast of omelets was provided. The prep work was done by Junior Program Officer Skip Yale, Rear Commodore Jennifer Yahr, and Vice Commodore Chuck Sanders. Past Commodore Harry Bennert, and yours truly were the short order cooks. Harry has been cooking for us for several years, and has become the “omelet expert”.

The weather cooperated and we filled two dumpsters with brush, trash, and other debris that gathered over the past year. Our off season construction and repair projects have been completed (with the exception of the dock house...see below). We are ready for May 9th Club Commissioning.

The invitations for Club Commissioning and the Cannonball were mailed a few weeks ago. Please return your RSVP card or contact Carol at the club as soon as possible. There is a limit to the number of members that can be seated for the dinner.

This Commissioning Ceremony is the only time when the Ensign is raised at a time other than the traditional 8 am. According to Nautical Etiquette & Customs by Lindsay Lord (a long time PYC member until his death in the late 90’s) a “loyal membership deserves to have the first flag raising of the season be of some importance”. As we carry on that tradition, it is worthy to note that PYC has been commissioned each season since 1869.

Following the commissioning, our Entertainment Officer, Mary Smith, and her committee have planned a fine dinner to be followed by dancing with the Jim Ciampi Band. What a great way to start our 2008 season.

The floats were launched and put in place on 19 April.Both launches and the Lindsay Lord are on their moorings and fully operational.Again, we had perfect weather for the launchings, and all went smoothly. A special thanks to, Bob Putnam, our Waterfront Steward, for the preparation, and to the volunteers for their assistance.

The new design for the dockhouse has been completed, and we have the permit for construction in hand. The construction began on Wednesday, 30 April, and we are diligently working so that it will be completed by Commission. If it is not, the construction will be completed in a manner that won’t restrict access to the waterfront.

The Waterfront Committee recommended, and the Board unanimously voted to dedicate the structure to long time club member and Past Commodore Bud Singer. Bud thoroughly enjoyed the club, and spent many years contributing his time, guidance and leadership to making the club a better place for all. He served on numerous committees, the Board of Directors and as our Commodore from 1987 to 1988.

Bud lost his fight to cancer last year, but our memory of him, his family, love of the club, and his ability as a sailor remain with us.

As a fitting tribute, we will include the dedication of the structure during the Commissioning ceremony.

Tony Jessen, Waterfront Officer and the Waterfront Committee are accepting contributions for the new PYC dock house. We have already received more than $6,000, and would appreciate your help in meeting our $18,000 goal. Please mail your check to: PYC, 40 Old Powerhouse Rd. Falmouth 04105. Indicate that the amount is to be earmarked for the “Bud Singer Dock House”. Please call Tony Jessen with any questions at (207) 771.0823 or email

Think Summer. Hope that your boats are uncovered, and ready to go. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me on my cell (207-450-5658) or email. Looking forward to seeing you on the water this season.