I’d like to start this month with a few thanks and congratulations. First, congratulations to everyone who helped make the Youth Auction such an amazing success. Vickie Earle and Sheri Murphy arranged a wonderful selection of auction items and, along with auctioneer, our own Bryan Lindsey (and a wallet lubricating jell-o concoction), coaxed over $8,000 from club members. The youth have plans to build a permanent dock for the Sunfish sailboats in a slip on B-wing donated that’s been by Canyon Lake Marina’s General Manager Don King. Thanks, Don, for your generous support of HCYC’s programs.

While I’m on the subject, thanks to Marty Chrisman and Joy Clayton, our Social Directors for hosting our best attended party so far this year. They reported that over 100 members and guests enjoyed the dinner and the band.

Hopefully, you’ve all noticed some of the improvements your Vice Commodore, John Larkin has made around the clubhouse. New shower heads in the ladies showers and a new kitchen sink faucet fixture are just a couple of the things he has done. He has a few other ideas that are in the planning stages as well. Thanks, John.

Also, a personal thank you to Pam Rudolph Walne for her tireless work on HCYC’s extensive racing schedule this year. She has spent countless hours ensuring that our members have a first class racing program. And she reports that participation is at levels we have not had in many years.

Finally, thanks to all of you who have been “talking-up” HCYC and recruiting new members. At last count, we have 28 new memberships this year. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting some of our new members, come join us at a party and introduce yourself. There are many great club events planned in August and September, check the calendar for details

A few reminders: please: no pets are allowed inside the clubhouse; in addition, no pets are allowed on the deck during club functions; and help us keep the clubhouse secure by checking all the door locks if you are the last to leave.

We will have a vote on the by-law amendments at the next quarterly meeting (the Labor Day party), so please try to attend, as we did not have enough for a quorum at the last attempt.

I ended my last article with a comment about checking my impeller, and I think it jinxed me. We just returned from a fabulous two-week sail in the British Virgin Islands, and sure enough, on the third day, we blew out the only impeller on the yacht. Fortunately, we were at The Baths on Virgin Gorda, and replaced the confounded part the next morning. We chartered a Lagoon 420 catamaran that had twin electric auxiliary motors (rather than diesel engines) with fellow HCYC members Danny and Pam Dever and some of my “Skellie” clan from Chicago and Louisville. Since Lagoon had delivered the yacht without an owners’ manual, we learned how to operate its systems while we sailed. The yacht was brand new, very spacious and comfortable, was whisper quiet, and sailed beautifully (averaging 5-7 knots in 12-18 knots of wind and reaching 9.4 knots in route to Anegada). I know to you power boaters, this seems agonizingly slow, but for us blowboaters, it was nautical nirvana. Anyone interested in this new electric technology, visit this Lagoon 420 website: http://www.catamarans.com/catamaranco/lagoon/420/420_electrical.asp. We enjoyed visiting some of our favorite places and discovering some new ones along the way. One new discovery was Jost Van Dyke Scuba in Great Harbor on JVD. For those of you who enjoy scuba diving, I recommend Captain Colin and his staff. We were treated to outstanding “off the beaten path” dive sites by a very friendly and professional crew. Our first dive, to a sunken 80’ double masted schooner, with all the rigging still intact, is one of the best I’ve ever experienced. Next time you are in the BVI, give them a call. His website is: http://www.jostvandykescuba.com.