REVIEWING OF THE FLEET
Ahoy Matie!
As summer activities on Lake Arrowhead begin to wind down for the season it is a tradition at the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club for the current Commodore to perform a “Reviewing of the Fleet” exercise.
With tongue in cheek, lots of laughs and tons of silliness, the members ambitiously decorate their motor craft in recognition of a theme chosen by the Commodore. This year Commodore Jeff, an airline pilot, chose the theme “Fly Me to the Moon”.
The Commodore then sets out on The Arrowhead Queen and examines his flotilla as it passes by.
Accompanying him on The Queen are the past and present directors of the Yacht Club and their guests. The Yacht Club chef is also on board keeping everyone plied with food & drinks.
Each year the club also selects 3, presumably prominent members of the community to help the Commodore judge the fleet.
Trophies are awarded in a number of categories and while it’s a lot of fun, members are serious about taking home the biggest prize.
This year my husband Brad was asked to be a judge and I got to join him in the fun. To make it official the Commodore presented us both with his official 2015 Fly Me to the Moon commemorative pin.
The Queen motors out into the lake, the Commodore takes his position at the side of the boat and the procession begins.
First up, The Lake Arrowhead Fire Department on its fire boat. One of the perils of being Commodore is that they are sometimes also presented with streams of water, water balloon explosions and water gun projections that come perilously close, all in good fun!
Next came the acrobatic water skiers from McKenzie’s Water Ski School, an institution on Lake Arrowhead since 1946.
And then came the fleet, all dolled up for their floats to the moon.
This boat featured saluting pilots and flight attendants in mini skirts. I’m not sure what celestial airline they came from.
They were followed by these floating flight attendants.
Cocktails anyone?
Next there was a floating Tiki Bar with a flying alligator.
Can someone please explain to me why there were cowboys & indians in Polynesia.
Then there was this tandem boat with Santa in tow that apparently confused Labor Day with Christmas.
Bubbles were billowing from the bough of this ship of impostors wearing face masks of Commodore Jeff.
But it was this ship of fools that outshined them all.
These honeymooners stopped by with pie in the sky for the Commodore on their way to the moon.
And they were towing this cast of characters.
I’m not sure I’d want this fellow steering my ship, would you?!
But what was really over the moon was the spectacular flyover from a squadron of stunt planes. Even they saluted Commodore Jeff with a wing wave…
before performing a missing man maneuver in honor of one of the club members who recently died piloting a plane in the line of duty.
It was such a special day and we were so honored to be able to experience it.
Upon arrival back at the Yacht Club we were greeted by the junior members who lined the gangplank.
The Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club is a very special institution here in our small town, with history that runs deep in the community.
They reciprocally welcome members of yacht clubs from around the world. Flags from many of those yacht clubs decorate the walls of LAYC. So if you’re a sailor be sure to stop in next time you’re on our mountain top.
So there you have it: REVIEWING OF THE FLEET
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