The Dickerson 50th Anniversary Rendezvous was a big success. Here are some words of thanks from Joe Slavin: “It was truly a team effort with directories and certificates by Barry Creighton followed up by a clever Dickerson parade strategy with 18 boats participating. Barry’s friends Mark and Jean Brzozowski and Sue and Mark Radler took excellent photos and videos of the event (with links available in the newsletter).
“Then, we had a commodores’ cookout with Barry, Bruce Franz, and Bill Toth at the helm. Bruce, his wife Tucky, and Dick Young made sure there was plenty of food for everyone. Commodore liaison, Jake Baer, III, thanks for taking the initiative in providing 86 custom made Dickerson anniversary T-shirts to 29 owners, and to you, John Stait, for helping to pack and deliver them to Oxford.
“Saturday’s race featured the largest Dickerson fleet ever of 18 boats. Although the wind was light, it offered a challenge and brought forth a winner, our new commodore Bill Toth. Congratulations Bill, we all look forward to working with you… again!
“The Anniversary Banquet on Saturday was the highlight of the event with about 90 in attendance. The steak and crab meat dinner was delicious. Decades of Dickerson Memories came to life with Larry Moser’s DVD of Neville Lewis’s historic global voyage in his D41, Southern Cross, 40 years ago. And our grateful thanks to Neville for the interview on Skype, and to Teddy Rivkin for the technical expertise that made it all go without a hitch.
“When all thought ‘Wow how can this be topped?’ out of the blue came Master of Ceremonies Pirate Blackbeard Bruce Franz with eye patch, coat, and sword to capture remarks on Dickerson memories from sailors Mary Ann and Dave Hazen and Chris and Bill Burry, who showed slides on their trans-Atlantic passage from 1986-1988, and D and Don Wogaman who told the group about their memories of Southern Cross voyages.
“Bruce recognized and thanked Jim and Paula Karr for their strong support over the past decades. Commodore Jake Baer presented the Dickerson trophies for the record race of 18 wooden and fiberglass Dickerson yachts varying in length from 35 to 41 feet. The winners were Slavin’s Irish Mist (35/36 class), Toth’s Starry Night (37/39 class), and the Wogaman’s Southern Cross (40/41/50 class.) The overall winner and commodore for 2015/2016 was Toth’s Starry Night. The awards presentation was followed by lively music organized by Jeff Stephenson. He and Barry had the talented musical assistance of singer Sandy Stait. What a glorious ending to a great 50th Anniversary Celebration!
