The year-long wait was finally coming to fruition as the CMCS yachts sailed into the Pelican Bay anchorage for the beginning of Danger Island Memorial Day Weekend. The seventeen boats arriving on Friday were:
Shadowfax, Russell & Kathleen Vance
Antares, Dennis & Suzanne Aguilera
Miller Time, Tim & Deedee Cheek
Katitude, Richard & Jimmie Chew
Desperado, Cecil & Danny Hazen
Sunday Silence, Don Lawson & Joan Perkett
Air Boss, Dan, Debbie & Devon Merriman
Barefeet, Bill & Mary Misenheimer
Jolly Mon, David & Cindy Naumann
Kestrel II, Ben & Carolyn Preston
Lazy Susan, John & Susan Reekie
Air Supply, Steve Romaine & Cindy Carlino
Sea Puppy, Mel Rudd & Glenda
Blue Skye, Mike & Ginny Smith Judy
Judy, Charles & Judy Tomlins
Slo Dance, Jerry & Kathy Wellens
The anchors were set, dinghies loaded, and our members headed for Danger Island (SPIT). We began to mark our territory, planting our umbrellas and chairs, as our fearless CMCS canine corps patrolled the area. The weather was beautiful. After cocktails we fired up the grills for Friday night dinner. After cleanup, we dinghied back to our yachts to spend a wonderful, quiet night on the hook (who doesn’t love Pelican Bay?).
Saturday morning the rest of our fleet (now twenty four) began to arrive. They were:
Win, Gary & Jeanne Blessing
Gopher Baroque, Jerry & Carol Pim, and family
Trust Me !!!, Kim Brown & Judy Anderson
Ariel, Gordon Coffman & Scouts
Second Edition, Tom & Sandy Poulos
Island Time, Curtis & Rebecca Tarvin
Journey, Graham Kortegast
As the dinghies landed for the day’s activities, they were greeted by our CMCS “Hostess”, Suzanne Aguilera, and our CMCS Photographer, Charles Tomlins. The games began with our famous “Prestigious Black Tie Croquet Tournament” performed on the undulating and fine-grained sea-shell surface. The gallery was on the edges of their seats, right to the end of the contest. The matches were officiated by our Governor, Russell Vance, and First Lady, Kathleen. The results were as follows:
First Place: Cecil Hazen
Second Place: Ben Preston
Third Place: Jimmie Chew
The long-awaited “Tie-less Couples Horseshoe Tournament” was under way at 1:00 PM, refereed by Lt. Governors Steve Romaine and Cindy Carlino. Once the crowd called for the Governor and First Lady (well-known ringers) to play, the results of the contest in question were for second and third place through the final founds. Results were as follows:
First Place: Russell & Kathleen Vance
Second Place: Cecil & Danny Hazen
Third Place: Cindy Carlino & Jim Lasorella
After a brief pause (or nap), the activities continued with the annual CMCS Chowder Contest, hosted by Lt. Governors John and Susan Reekie. A record number of kettles (fourteen) were fired up, music turned on and dancers in step, as the members sampled the marvelous chowders. The winners were as follows:
Best Tasting:
First Place: Cindy Naumann “Lucky Asian Chowder”
Second Place: Joan Perkett “White Trash Chowder”
Third Place: Judy Tomlins “Klondike Chowder”
Best Presentation:
First Place: Cindy Carlino & Jimmie Chew “Don Ho Suckem Up Chowder”
Second Place: Kathy Wellens “Dead Chicken Chowder”
Third Place: Deedee Cheek “Chowder Bites”
As evening fell, we lit the traditional “campfire” with the help of our engineering staff, Dennis Aguilera, Jerry and Kathy Wellens, and a northwest wind. Members gathered for the “Shell of the Conch” celebration as we remembered recently deceased members Mary Alexander, Gene Whatley, and P-Nut, along with our service men and women all over the world. The conch horn was passed around among the members, and sounded with pride, while Ben Preston serenaded us with his harmonica.
Our great fire at “Danger Spit” was the best around, with the possible exception of the 75 acres burning in North Cape Coral. Many good jokes were told and prizes awarded. When the wind shifted 180 degrees, our engineering staff ran for the shovels and extinguished our great fire.
On Sunday we gathered on the beach for lunch, the “Aerial Corn Hole Diving and Bombardment Contest”, and the “Hairy Ball Boccie Tournament”. Lt. Governors Richard and Jimmie Chew headed up the “Corn-Hole”. This very-hotly contested event, played out through three grueling rounds, with 18 players all fighting for the top prizes. The winners were as follows:
First Place: Steve Romaine and Glenda “Rudd”
Second Place: Ben Preston and Susan Reekie
Third Place: John Reekie and Tom Poulos
Mel Rudd and the beautiful Glenda headed up the unforgettable “Hairy Ball Boccie Tournament”. By the end of the game there were two healthy balls and two tied together. The winners, lightly coated in hairy-ball milk, were as follows:
First Place: Graham Kortegast
Second Place: Jeanne Blessing
Third Place: Dennis Aguilera
By late afternoon, everyone was prepared for the drawing of the grand prize, the super 32-inch Flat-screen with remote. The winner, number 31, was Ben Preston. Congratulations, Ben! All told, there were 128 prizes and awards distributed over the three days. Congratulations to all the winners!
Governor Vance and his Board of Governors
After awards, we all drifted back to our yachts for some badly needed “R & R”. After another beautiful, peaceful night, most members weighed anchor and headed home on Monday.
There is no question Pelican Bay was the best location for our new Danger Island. Start now working on your game skills, planning your chowder recipe, and coming up with a new joke, and we will see you at Danger Island in 2012.
The best,
Russell Vance
Governor of Danger Island
