By Adam Plourde

     Can you smell it? It’s just barely out of range, but I can almost feel it tickling my nostrils. The birds around here smell it, as they return from wherever it is that birds go. Warm weather teases with brief appearances before retreating temporarily before a jealous Winter. Ah, yes. Spring is almost here. In a few short weeks the tarp will come off the boat, and the spring mods and repairs will commence in preparation for the seasons activities.

     And lots of activities are beginning to take shape.

     T. Nelson Surbrook reports that the Northwest Fleet will be having a Regatta at what’s been called "The most beautiful lake in America," Lake Coeur d’ Alene in Idaho. The plans are for the third weekend in July, hopefully at Squaw Bay Resort and Marina. They are looking at 100% fleet attendance and are in the reservation stage now. The resort doesn’t open till spring so things won’t be firmed up for a while. For more information contact T. Nelson at tnelson@surbrook.org.

     The Northern Plains Fleet has scheduled their 2001 Regatta at Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton, South Dakota from June 8^th through June 10^th, 2001. A webpage with details has been posted at http://www.turtlecreek.net/genesis_log.htm. There are twelve motel rooms blocked off, but attendees will have to make their own reservations. There is also camping available. The Stevensons are planning on attending as part of their 25^th year Weekender birthday bash. Please contact Mike Donlin (mdonlintc@turtlecreek.net) or Bruce Jones (brucetc@turtlecreek.net) for information and to let them know that you’re attending.

     There have been rumblings of some other Regatta’s, but plans have not been firmed up. Hopefully by the next issue we will have more to report.

     There is some additional fleet activity regarding the composition of fleets. I’ve recently proposed that the Northeast Fleet be broken up into two separate fleets to bring the geography down to a reasonable size. We have enough members in the area to justify this. The first proposed fleet would be the New England Fleet compromising Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and possibly upstate New York. The second fleet (unnamed, at the moment) would comprise Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. We are looking for comments on this plan, and a volunteer to head the New England Fleet should we proceed. Please feel free to contact myself (rearcommodore@byyb.org) or Scott Widmier (widmier@uakron.edu) if you have comments or would like information. I would like to move on this, if possible, in the next several weeks so that this summers activities could be planned out.

     I’m also proposing the creation of a Georgia area fleet. So far I’ve gotten positive responses from Mark Mazor and Tom Kenyon, with Tom volunteering to help organize things. If you are in Georgia or the surrounding states I strongly encourage you to "join up." You will not be sorry. If interested please contact either myself (again, rearcommodore@byyb.org) or Tom Kenyon (kenyons@bellsouth.net).

     There may be some other fleet possibilities out there as well. So far I’ve only explored the east side of the US, but I am slowly making my way across the membership roster. Maybe, before long, we will even see fleets outside of the United States. Please, feel free to jump in and recommend a new fleet. Also, if I missed anything, let me know. We’ll get it in the next issue.

     Remember, the BYYB is for the members, by the members. Participating promises to increase the pleasure and enjoyment of boat building and sailing. Not participating leaves you with a tee-shirt.

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