(Jack Thomas and Emilie Rankin took pictures of the festivities and the photos have been organized into a photo album here.) 30th Annual Victoria Days Cruise Sponsored by the Maritime Museum of Victoria, B.C. by Sally Larson, Rear Commodore Our club has participated in the colorful parade of boats in front of the grand old Empress Hotel each year.  While those in British Columbia celebrate being an independent country and province with a parade and waterfront entertainment, we on the boats help open Victoria's boating season as we decorate our boats with nautical flags and salute the attending commander. Terry Forsythe our Canadian OIYC member has been in charge of this event all 30 of those years.  He has planned and organized all of it in conjunction with the Maritime Museum and the many yacht clubs in British Columbia.  Those who attend always have a wonderful stay in Victoria with our, “Special Connections”.  Thank you again Terry (and Marianne)!!! Winners All!!! Once again the Orcas Island Fleet won the award entitled, “Most Boats from any Yacht Club”. This year we had 17 boats in the parade.  Although, I doubt anyone going to Victoria Days, goes to win, we were happy to see that Harriet Anne Got 2nd in Power and Hey Jude got a third place.  In Sail, Gusto was first and Vancourier got 3rd.  Blue Dragon won largest boat in the parade. Structured like a real naval parade, some of the `Yachties”, are a bit in a quandary about the expectations.   After 5 years participating, both Sally and George Larson, cruise captains finally donned white pants and navy blue jackets for the big day. Speaking of jackets, Wally Weller of Ariel thought he saw a smirk on the face of Commander Bill Truelove when he did the salute in a Royal Canadian Jacket he found down in the antique section of Capitol Iron.  (This is one of the favorite places for the men to shop when in Victoria.)  During the week, Joann and Wally Weller rode bicycles out to Beacon Park and around Victoria.  Wally is past commodore Mebs Gilliam's brother.  This was their first sailpast in Victoria. We are not sure, but it seemed that Commander Truelove deliberately held his salute a very long time- making skippers a bit nervous with both hands off of the wheel.  Some have no trouble with a salute and we had a sense of pride as our handsome commodore saluted at the head of the parade.  (We are given this honor because we are the yacht club with the most boats attending the affair.) Another man at ease with a salute and at the helm was Gordy Fox who served as captain for Terry Forsythe's Lady Jay II.  Terry was a part of the dockside committee. Fairhaven Farm Garden Party For the last several years, Terry and his wife Marianne have invited members of our club out to a barbecue garden party at their Fairhaven Farms horse ranch.  This year we had some 25 members and guests at this lovely event.  Instead of the cherry-tree lined drive being in bloom, there was a fragrant and gorgeous white wisteria tree surrounded by peonies making the place a gardener's showcase.   Some boats, Lazyjacks, Clyde and Barbara Teague, Oystercatcher, George and Emily Rankin, Undecided (On the ways), Jack and Gail Gilman with Mary and Paul Greenwell came from Sydney while the others caught rides arranged from the Empress Docks.  The young fiddler, Tyler Carson provided the group with some great background music. Looking like a movie set, the ranch, with the huge thoroughbred horses are most impressive and the interiors of their home show a study of Architectural Digest.  For us wannabe designers, it was a toss-up, which we liked best after the gorgeous floral displays, the dollhouse fitted into the living room or the leopard covered settee? More Activities OIYC hosted a cocktail party in the upstairs courtroom above the Maritime Museum.  This year the Forsythe's introduced the judge who presides in the room at the party.  One hundred people including 2 children attended the party and some toured the museum. Barbara Bedell, our special events coordinator made it in time for the party and joined the crew of Blue Dragon. Thirty-two left the Museum for a most interesting 3 round-table dinner at Don Mee's Chinese Restaurant. A Ladies Luncheon at the Union Club organized by Marianne Forsythe was fun for the gals as the men made their way to the Canoe Club for a bite and a brew. “Black Olive,” was chosen the best restaurant this year by our restaurant scouts and reviewers :Pat and Ron Burman of Gusto aided by Ray and Ann Stanhope of Fair Lady.  We think it is coincidental that these twosomes sport pedometers on their long walks! Not to be outdone in the sport of finding the best restaurant, Commodore Jack Thomas and wife Pat from Sea Star led the charge to Pagliacci's  where, Bob Lundeen and his guests Linda and Rich Gettman off of Blue Dragon, Past Commodore Kelly Lehr and his wife Donna off of Royal Eagle, and Sally and George Larson, My Gal Sal.  Restaurant space being limited, George managed a quick dance with Pat and Linda. Roger and Joan Crosby on Gull Cry were playing two roles on the docks as they participated with us and attended the very important Electric Utility Meetings at the Empress Hotel.  They had guests Randy Cornelius, OPALCO manager and his wife, Dotty, with them.  Roger has represented us on the OPALCO Board for 17 years now. Shopping is always a major activity of the week.  This year Pat Thomas and Katie Thomas competed with Barbara Teague for most trips up to the favorite ladies store, Chintz.  Sally Larson bought fabrics for a table skirt with promises of sewing help from Pat and Katie.  George Larson wants to know what these other ladies do with the tassels they buy? Gene and Judy Flath arrived Friday on Hey Jude bringing with them a huge piece of smoked salmon, which Gene had caught at Langara recently.  When Judy is told ”Heavy Hors d'oeuvres”, she takes it seriously.  Thanks for sharing your fish Gene! Speaking of fishing, Lew Thomas, Clyde Teague, Ray Stanhope and George Larson were seen walking the 2 plus miles to the special chandlery that carries ,”Good fishing gear”.  It seems that Mebs and Wally Gilliam of Gadzooks were leaving for Alaska from Victoria Days and Wally needed to be set up with gear! Good luck, Wally! Clyde Teague was teased unmercifully for being 17 minutes late with his flag one morning.  Clyde is affectionately called the Flag Nazi. Along with the rest of the group, Gordy and Dee Fox were on hand for the brunch, which was held after the ballet of ferry, boats at the Ocean Pointe Resort.   Elusive or exclusive?  Jim and Bev Ohlman, with Karen and David Ecklund enjoyed a stay at the Regent Hotel with their boat, Queen Bee II being moored at the sea plane dock.  It was fun to find out that Bob and Harriet Miller's guests Frieda and Joe Nichols on Harriet Anne had shared a hunting story with Dave. (We didn't know Dave was a bow-hunter!) By-the-way, Harriet, no one thinks that you won a prize because of those cute dogs! The night the bands played on the boardwalk for our shared dock party, Tina and Jerry Davidson joined us on their annual buying trip for Tina's Cider.  The people- watching was great. In fact, George and Emily Rankin of Oystercatcher arrived with the best story of the week told by their guests, George Rankin's parents who stayed in a hotel where they were holding a conference for transvestites.  Several of us watched a few of them sashay along our walkway!  Emily, by the way was one of several sporting a new navy blue jacket for the sailpast. Speaking of people watching, Pipedream had a front row seat for the bands. Pipedream is better than ever after being rebuilt according to Scotty Emmes. It has all new electronics and upholstery and shines like new. Scotty and Emery Emmes had planned to re-christen Pipedream at Victoria Days, but this plan was put on hold for lack of time.  (Maybe the 4th of July?) Perigee's, Lew Thomas organized a group to see a show at the McPherson Theatre Sunday night.  Hattie and Bill Dixon off of Vancourier and Sally and George Larson, My Gal Sal enjoyed Tiller's Folly. Of course those who stayed Sunday enjoyed the parade.  Sunny Victoria Days!!! Victoria's Opening Day Sailpast Results - from Terry Forsyth, Chairman On Sunday May 23, 2004, 52 Boats participated in the 30th Annual Sailpast in front of the Empress with Commander Bill Truelove on board the yacht “Windstar” taking the salute. Best Power      1. Phantom Lady          Steve Beggs               Victoria           2. Harriet Anne              Bob Miller                   Orcas      3. Hey Jude                   Eugene Flath              Orcas Best Sail      1. Gusto                         Ron Burman               Orcas      2. White Trillium            David Whitten             Victoria      3. Vancourier                 Bill Dixon                     Orcas Best Dressed Crew      Bose-Lady               Ken Farey               Victoria Best Working Boat      Rocket               Seaspan               Victoria Smallest Vessel                      Small Fry               Ira Rote               Victoria Largest Vessel      Blue Dragon               Bob Lundeen               Orcas Furthest Distance                     Boat                    Joe Baldwin               St. Helens, Ore Most Club Boats           Orcas Island Yacht Club     Jack Thomas  - Commodore from Terry Forsyth Chairman Correspondence to: T. Forsyth, 9548 Canora Rd, Sidney BC, V8L 4R1 Phone 656-1166 Fax 655-1135