Those “I cant find it “ gremlins got ahold of last week’s column somewhere and somehow. We wrote it and submitted it on time but there was a lot of news and advertising and somehow we didn’t make it in print. (Editor’s note: It’s just as Andy says – lots of news and not enough space for several columns and articles – but it was published online). Undaunted and unphased, here we are again in the dead middle of our 24th  year of writing this epistle. I started writing it back in the ’80s but was relieved for many years, midstream, by Ginny Conn and of course the inimitable Scotty, to whom we extend public wishes for improved health and stability. We miss you here on scene every week.

A comment is in order before the news, and well deserved at that. Specifically we need to salute Chef Raymond for his creativity, style, selection, and taste. We (Louise and I)  have had three regular meals so far and each has been a gem. Raymond and his staff seem equally at home with individual plated meals as well as event meal service. Nothing we challenge him with seems to phase things and he is always smiling at the end of the day.

One of those challenges was the High School Sailing team season wrap up banquet. The team, accompanied by parents and friends, gathered last Saturday night for dinner, friendship, salutes, and extensive videos of the season just past. It was a chance to greet and thank the JPF Foundation officers as well as the present Junior Program Chair Charlie Cochrane and his two predecessors, PC Andy Holmes and Pauline Dion. Among others accepting honors were the two Nates — Conlin and Graves — who have graduated and now leave the program in good hands.

The Junior Program staff have been hard at work getting the Tech Dingies ready and into the water and the program started on time Monday of this week. Once a new float is delivered and anchored in place, the rest of the boats now decorating the lawn will have found their home and rightful place. The staff apologizes for the unsightly growing of lawn decorations but the construction in progress on the new Sailing and Education Center has caused a temporary relocation of boats in storage.

The construction is in its final stages with the dedication event scheduled for this coming weekend . Carpeting is  now complete, telephone and IT installation is now in process, the Cupola has been clapboarded, the retaining wall is near completion, and sodding of the lawns is awaited as a precautionary move to eliminate mud and mess tracking into the new building. The new ramp and floats have been completed and tested and were in use this week with the start of the Jr. Program. This is not only for the youth as it also includes the entire kayak operation which Sharma will direct when she returns from her trip.

Dedication is scheduled for Sunday from 5-8 p.m. and will feature speeches, a ribbon-cutting and a gala dinner event . Reservation details will be forthcoming from the club.

Building ready or not, the Junior Program is underway and with an outstanding staff in both tennis and sailing. Monday, the kids arrived with grateful parents leaving them for the day under the care of Chantelle Arsenault on the courts and Chris Liberti on  the waterfront. Chantelle returns for her second year and you will remember that she was a  four-year letter winner at Bowdoin and the Maine under 10 Instructor of the year winner. Mike Mills from Cape Elizabeth and Gettysburg College is an instructor.

Chris is a US sailing Level 3 head coach and this is his third year at BHYC. He is a math and science teacher at Boothbay Region High School. On Chris’ team are Aidan Clark and Caleb Grey , both Level 2 instructors,  both in their third year and both having gone through the entire Junior Program since young children. Tori Thompson, also a Level 2 instructor, will return for her second year fresh off the ISCA Collegiate National Championships where she raced for Stanford  University. Tess McComisky, a Level 1 instructor, rounds out the returning field. New to our team is Cole Williams-Brauer who is joining us fresh off an all woman’s Pacific Cup race entry. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii where she lettered for four years on the varsity sailing team.

Upcoming: Don’t forget the Dock Party Saturday, the Suddenly Skipper program today (Thursday, June 21)  and upcoming on the 28th, the Maine Maritime Museum visit, sponsored by Men’s Sailing.