Damn The Historians: Full Speed Ahead!

by Doug Owen

While I was off cruising for a few years some time ago, I managed to author a few magazine articles for a couple of sailing publications. A good friend, who also happened to be one of my editors at the time, the late David Poe, gave me a piece of advice that I still try to remember: “Always write like you’re sitting on a barstool and talking with the guy next to you; take us along with you”. When applying that advice, I have to admit that there have been times when the exact truth, or all of it, has not been permitted to get in the way of telling a good story!

The trouble with writing for The Telltale is that there are so many people that have been around so long, they remember all of the history that I left out! It’s a lot easier when you’re on a sailboat with one or two other people, and you swear them to secrecy.

Following my Pomp and Circumstance article, I learned a lot of history of Opening Day, and a lot about the people that made it happen over the years. Capt. Elmer Towle continued to chair the Opening Day Committee for many years following its’ rebirth in 1963, after which Staff Commodore Milt Stannard took the helm. As a matter of fact, Milt has been actively involved for virtually all of the Opening Days since, including 2001! Staff Commodores Bill Bremer, Ron Kell, Charlie White….plus Dick Grey, D. G. Tilton and others…all have been responsible for guiding this tradition to the wonderful event that we enjoy today. Knowing all this, it is pretty wonderful to sit in a Committee Meeting with Charlie White and Milt Stannard in 2001, and enjoy the benefit of their continued active involvement.

Elmer & Myrtle Towle, Milt & Mignon Stannard, Charlie & Ginny White, Ro & Jerri Fontana, and others that have guided CYC through so many years, and created so much history…

We should all celebrate being a part of what CYC represents. For those of you that took the time to straighten out the new kid: Thanks!

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