January 2025
Commodore's Comments
by Ted Avellone, Commodore 2025!
Happy New Year!
Having narrowly defeated past Commodore Kristin Korinko in a grueling feat-of-strength pugil-stick competition at last month’s great Festivus celebration on our beloved (though currently training trailer-less) beach, I now officially have the honor and privilege of serving as the club’s Commodore for 2025. If you missed Festivus, the battle was akin to the classic Star Trek episode where the charismatic Captain James T. Kirk battles the Gorn, a horrible, scaly overgrown lizard-like creature, on a sandy desert planet. . (Unlike the Star Trek episode, however, at the Festivus battle it was the Gorn who prevailed.)
Afterwards everyone enjoyed the dozens of tasty pot-luck items and of course the traditional famed martinis, and at the airing of grievances repeated chants of “write the check” for a new trailer frame rang out, somewhat to the righteously indignant chagrin of our beloved purser Wright “Elon” Finney. Vice Commodore Rick Upson’s excellent hat-fanned bonfire roared throughout the afternoon and into the evening, providing warmth and light, and of course eventually being a thing several people couldn’t resist jumping over, especially after Teensie dispensed magic rocks to be placed in it which made the flames green.
2025 will be a banner year of lots of sailboarding! Trips around the Tripods and to Rabbit Island, freestyle clinics, Summer Race Series, maybe even fishing-from-sailboards contests. I am very much looking forward to the Wind Ceremony, the official kickoff of warm-weather sailing--being a warm weather creature, I leave the bone-chilling winds and face-numbing icy spray of pre-Wind Ceremony sailboarding to those thicker-blooded members in the club. Besides, I have found that wetsuits shrink simply by being placed in dark closets for a year or two. I am also very much looking forward to well-attended training days, practice days, the Steven C. Smith Memorial Regatta (which past Commodore Kristin has agreed to totally handle – JUST KIDDING), the Endless Summer, Rum & Root Beer, and every other event slated for 2025.
Last but not least, I would like to thank and welcome all of our newly elected Officers and Board Members!
See you all at the meetings, the beach, and on the water!
What a whirlwind of activity to end 2024. Our Christmas party went off without a hitch due to the steady leadership of our incoming Commodore, Ted, and all the folks that have done this countless times helping. Our Great Swami was there to read “A Visit from Swami Claus”, and folks just kept dancing the night away. It was great to see some new faces in the crowd! Paige was once again our bartender and she was assisted by her sister, Grace.
The weekend after the Christmas party was even busier! First off, Mark and Sylvia tied the knot on Friday at Shell Point under the big gazebo. Then on Saturday they invited everyone to their home in midtown to celebrate the beginning of their life together as a married couple. Over 100 people attended throughout the afternoon.
To top of the weekend, we had our annual Festivus celebration. One new member had a martini for the VERY FIRST TIME! Rico once again came through with a Festivus miracle of Boodles gin. The Commodore and Vice had it out with pugil sticks on a crossbeam, with the Vice, wearing a combat helmet, winning 2-1. He was then awarded the Commodores jacket and staff. The food was incredible with lots of soups, chowder, and gumbo. Rick Upson, or new Vice, brought the wood and had a great fire going the whole time, even though the warmth wasn’t needed until the sun started heading down.
What a great way to end the year!
Festoooooooooooons!!!!!
