I'm looking forward to my second year serving as Rear Commodore of our Yacht Club. There are many new and exciting things in store for the coming years!

Our new Commodore Andy Barrow shared his thoughts about the future and the inevitable change it will bring. I'd like to share a story about the common interest we share as members of a Yacht Club:

`Do you know, I`ve never been in a boat before in all my life.'

`What?' cried the Rat, open-mouthed: `Never been in a--you never--well I--what have you been doing, then?'

`Is it so nice as all that?' asked the Mole shyly, though he was quite prepared to believe it as he leant back in his seat and surveyed the cushions, the oars, the rowlocks, and all the fascinating fittings, and felt the boat sway lightly under him.

`Nice? It's the ONLY thing,' said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'

`Look ahead, Rat!' cried the Mole suddenly.

It was too late. The boat struck the bank full tilt. The dreamer, the joyous oarsman, lay on his back at the bottom of the boat, his heels in the air.

`--about in boats--or WITH boats,' the Rat went on composedly, picking himself up with a pleasant laugh. `In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not. Look here! If you've really nothing else on hand this morning, supposing we drop down the river together, and have a long day of it?'

The Mole waggled his toes from sheer happiness, spread his chest with a sigh of full contentment, and leaned back blissfully into the soft cushions. `WHAT a day I'm having!' he said. `Let us start at once!'

 - Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

I'd like to welcome some of the people that will be having fun creating and planning activities this year. Ricki Williams as our new Ashore Director and Jesse Coburn as our new Junior Program Director.

I would also like to thank outgoing Directors George Krayniack and Ken Gill for their valued service to our club.

Long time Director of Afloat Activities Mike Danielson has left the board to focus on other things. I want to thank Mike for his many years of service to VYC, he will continue to support VYC events and the Pacific Puddle Jump.

The Afloat Director position is open, if you have a passion for all things afloat this is an opportunity to help VYC continue to be the center for nautical activities in Banderas Bay! Contact Randy Hough

Event Calendar

The VYC Calendar of club events is one of the first challenges that falls to the Rear Commodore. The calendar must be completed early and approved by the Board of Directors in June. All suggestions are welcome and hosting or sponsoring an event is fun and easy. If you have an idea that you think would be fun for VYC, please contact Ricki Williams (Ashore Activities), Jesse Coburn (Junior Program) or me (Afloat Activities).

Afloat Activities

My goal for On The Water is to create events that include more VYC members and include more social activities. The first VYC Club Cruise to Tenacatita was a success, look for more cruising events next year. We will continue to focus on quality events and tailor them to the active VYC fleet. Most VYC on the water events will include our power fleet as well as our sailing fleet. We are working towards a goal of providing opportunity for every VYC member that wants to get out on the water to do so. After all doing things on the water is the common bond that makes VYC a Yacht Club.

What a day I'm having! Let us start at once!  - indeed!

Randy Hough
Rear Commodore VYC