Mudheads Celebrate 

Introduce Board of Managers for 2011

An estimated 150 Mudheads and their guests turned out for the annual Christmas Party on December 4th at Evolution Sail Loft in Olde Mystic.  A fine selection of meats and cheeses, fruit and crudite' plus a 20 pound turkey and assorted cookies, fed the masses.  Several gallons of rum, wine and beer were consummed in the traditional Mudhead manner.  

Over 40 gift items were raffled off, including baskets of rum, sailing gear, subscriptions, a membership to the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and two Christmas trees from Maple Farms.  About a third of the partiers donned glow braclets and participated in a new game, Heads or Tails, with the grand prize of cash split with the Eddie Maxwell fund.   We raised enough to fix the broken windlass and one Mudhead walked off with a pocketfull of cash, which promptly went into his date's pocket!

The highlight of the evening was the ceremonial appearance of the second oldest yachting trophy in America, the Brooklyn Ocean Challenge Cup.  It has been won the last 3 years by Dark n'Stormy, skippered by Mike LaChance with an all star Mudhead crew.  The Cup, displayed under lock and key, was donated by Randolph Hurst in 1905 and is currently under the auspices of the Chinese Yacht Club in Greenport, who graciously allowed us to bask in it's all silver elegance.

The MRMSAECSASBORC Trophy was also presented for the second year in a row to Carl & Val Fast on Looney Tunes for the best performance by a Mudhead boat in the ECSA Championship.

The new Mudhead Board was elected unanimously at the Annual Meeting, held moments before the bar was opened.  Past Commodore Bob Austin-LaFrance turned over the MudHut keys on dog collar to new Commodore Rich Magner.  He will rule with Vice Commodore Toby Halsey, and Rear Commodore Dave Nickerson.  Greg Gilmartin returns to the board for one more year along with Mike LaChance and  Scott Baker for another two.  New board members include Rob Aquaro and Dave Lettiere.   Secretary Greg Stoltz and Treasurer Dave Page continue in their long standing roles as well. Board meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month and all members are welcomed to attend.

The Mudhead Christmas Party is traditionally the first on the calendar and you should make plans right now for the Saturday, December 1, 2011 party.  It's going to happen, so be there!

Past Commodore Bob Austin-LaFrance (left) presents incoming Commodore Rich Magner the traditional dog collar that holds the Mud Hut key.  Magner returned the favor later with the presentation to Bob of the past Commdore's burgee.

Photos by Bill Moore