JOE'S POND REFLECTIONS: Final Sunfish Race for the Season!

S nday marked the end of the official sailing season on Joe's Pond. There was a consistently good turnout for each race this year and everyone had a great time. We have some good sailors here!

Susan Bouchard sent the results of the race:

Double Division:

1) Lee Erdmann & Charlie Roberts

2) Joe Cassani & Grayson Demers

3) Mateo Calcagni & Henry Goldman

Single Division:

1) Jack LaGue

2) Jay Chatot

3) Jules Chatot

4) Rob Stewart

5) John Moore

After the race there was a celebration at Mark & Rosie Smith’s place on North Shore. Pictures of the race are from Susan.

Here are some pictures that Joanne Stewart took of the party---

After the race, Jamie and Marie went to pick up the buoys marking the sailing course. Normally, that isn't a difficult task, but yesterday there were at least three wake boats all out on the water at the same time and the "sea was running rough" with unnaturally large waves. One wake boat came very close to the pontoon boat and the huge wake caused the rope attached to one of the big marker bouys to break as Jamie was trying to recover it. Jamie nearly got dunked before he managed to get the buoys on board and the anchor lines secured without further damage. I'm reminding drivers of these big, powerful boats to please pay attention and don't go close to other water craft - or to the shore. We appreciate that you stay off the water during the sailboat races, but young drivers especially, sometimes need to be reminded of the rules and common courtesy. The waves from those boats are really big; I was out with Jamie on the pontoon boat Saturday and we got jostled a few times and watched waves crash on-shore and into boats tied at docks.

Another recent report I had was of three jet-skis that were playing "jump the wake" and criss-crossing each other's paths in the vicinity of the islands near where the loons are. As far as we know, the loons made it out of their way without being harmed, but parents, please remind your kiddos to watch out when they are cavorting ont he water - and show respect for wildlife. It's easy to forget when you're having fun, but we don't want an accident to mar the summer, just as the season is winding down.

I expect lots of families are preparing for their children to go back to school this week. Many local schools are opening - but it seems early. This is the first summer that granddaughter, Tangeni, has said she wishes summer wasn't ending so soon. She has always been eager to go back to school each fall. Her mom takes it in stride saying that she is growing up and other activities are becoming more important. Such is life.

I mentioned in a previous post that Monika's mother is visiting from Namibia. I was with them recently for dinner at camp, and Monika took these photos. Floriana is such a joy - even though we don't understand each other's language, she is fun to be with. I haven't seen her for seven or eight years - Bill, Monika, Tangeni and Jo-Ann visited before Covid, and Monika chats with her family frequently by phone. Floriana will be here until after the

holidays.