Sharing Past Memories

As I was cleaning and clearing and organizing my office/craft room/dumping ground.. I ran across some neat photos from the past.  The one below I just had to share with you.  This is me and a friend sailing my sailboat Stargazer in the Opening Day Parade for all the boating clubs in Portland, Oregon.  All the yacht clubs organize their members and boats in a water parade celebrating the opening of the sailing season.  It's pretty awesome.  There is a lot of advance planning of who is going and where you'll be in the formation and a lot of cleaning and decorating of your boat.

You arrive early at the club for a big breakfast in the dining room, then all dressed in white slacks and navy blue blazers and white shirts and shoes there is an Opening Day ceremony with all the Past Commodores and the present Commodore and his officers and all the members.  There are speeches and a flag raising and a cannon is shot off!  Then everyone gets on their boats and head out and get in formation.. then you have to hold your place and then when it's our turn we get in line in the big parade.  There is judging of lots of categories.

All the Commodores.. a few years ago we had our first Woman Commodore! :-)

The local Sea Scouts do our flag raising ceremony for us each year.

Here is a wonderful shot of the ceremony and the clubhouse.. and the sailboat marina.  Our boat is on the dock to the left which is not shown.  The club is half sail and half power and we alternate commodores from sail to power each year.  

After the parade we peel off and most everyone sails for the afternoon.  Many boats headed down to the Portland Yacht Club's "outstation" - they own a small bay on Sauvie Island where they've built docks and a lovely floating clubhouse for dining and partying.

I am the webmaster for the Portland Yacht Club.. do visit and learn more about the group if you like.

We're still packing and organizing for our camping trip.. if you haven't left a comment on my "Give-Away" post a few down below, hurry as the contest ends at midnight tomorrow (Sunday).

Thanks for visiting and I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)