As the sun sets on the 2013 summer sailing season, it also marks the beginning of the fall season.

The coming weekend, Sept. 7th and 8th, promises to be a reprieve from the recent spell of dogged days that have been upon us, and, as luck would have it, also happens to be an event-filled weekend at the club. We’re encouraging as many POYC members as possible to come out for an “all hands on deck” opportunity to support the club and have a sail of a good time!

This weekend, WKU’s ORAC (Outdoor Recreation Adventure Center) will be at the club for a two-day clinic on sailing. First up is Saturday, and the ORAC members will be spending the entire day with us. We’ve promised to share with these young, new adventurers what BOAT LIFE is all about. We need sailors and boats to take the WKU students out and show ’em the ropes! If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to get out and sail this season, this is it — come on out and help instill the love of sailing into the upcoming generation. Arrive any time between 9:00 a.m. til dusk.

The ORAC visit continues on Sunday with the Poor Cay Regatta. The skippers’ meeting is at at 10:00 a.m. followed by the race. We’d love to have a big turnout for the regatta. And if you are in need of crew, don’t worry — the WKU students will be on-hand looking for boats to hop on board!  If you aren’t planning on racing, put up sail as a spectator. Sunday afternoon, after the race, we will have a cookout and get together. Barry Sanders will be making a batch of his famous hot and jerk wings.

If you haven’t been out to the club this summer, come out and see your boat. She misses you and so do we! There are only a few weeks left in this season. Let’s see if we can turn this into a year that we will remember for sailing. While the Port Oliver Yacht Club may be a great place to store your boat, it’s an even better place to get together with other sailors who are eager to share their experiences with you, but are also eager to learn about yours. Without member involvement, the spirit of the club declines and our future is put at risk. Take full advantage of your membership — make another tack before the season is out.

See you on the lake!