It was great to see some of you again over the Memorial Day weekend. It's always fun and relaxing to get down to the boat and leave the "real world" behind. My wife Sandy always says that after a weekend on the boat, she feels like she's been away on a mini vacation.

And before you know it, July 4th will be here! Are you ready to look patriotic? Many of you got into the sprit of the independence day holiday last year and "dressed up" your boat to show your pride. Let's get out those flags and decor again!

Speaking of July 4th
Are you ready for another dock party? This year our 4th of July weekend dock party will be held on Sunday July 5th. Last year we had such a good response from having it "topside" on the hotel's bay terrace, the plan is to have it there again. It seems like there was more room to visit and get to know your dock neighbors We will be having the same setup with the hotel providing the ribs and beans, and we ask that you bring along side dish "pot luck " style such as a salad or appetizer.

Please rsvp to the marina office at 619-424-4455 with your attendance numbers and what you intend to bring.

Reminder to Bring Your ID/Account Card
A summer reminder. When you are heading up to the hotel, please take along your marina ID/account card and your discount card to show your servers in the hotel and at the pool. This will make it so much easier on them and there will not be a question about incorrect charges. PLEASE, even if you are a "regular" to the server, show them your cards anyway. Due to the fact that there have been many charges to wrong accounts because guests do not bring their cards, they will be asking to see them. Thanks!!!

This worthwhile charity event is not a traditional yacht club race - instead, it's an event where boaters with or without any yacht club affiliation donate their time, the use of their boat and resources to take people in wheel chairs for a pleasure cruise on San Diego bay.

Last year 700 people where afforded a cruise on the bay. If you can provide the use of your low deck power boat, time and effort, please call Silver Gate Yacht Club at 619-222-1241.

June 1st you'll be happy to know is "National Donut Day" .

The list goes on including famous birthdays - for example, June 9th is Donald Duck's Birthday. For fun, you can check out the whole list of June holidays on About.com.

Nautical trivia - Slush Fund
On ships of old, if your nose could stand it, you could get a slushy slurry of fat after a long voyage by boiling or scraping the empty salted meat storage barrels.

This stuff called "slush" was often sold ashore by the ship's cook for the benefit of himself or the crew. The money from the sale became known as a slush fund.

From the Poop Deck
Hey Buddy! Nice new boat you got there! Oh, it's your first boat?

Don't forget, you have to adjust your lines when the tide comes in and goes out, and I notice you don't have any "Automatic Line Adjusters". I can get you a set for only twelve hundred dollars - of course, you'll need two sets, one for the front and one for the back. They're expensive, but these are the most reliable line adjusters made. By the way, how's your supply of relative bearing grease?

Editors Note: We do apologize for Madeline. We keep trying to smooth out her rough edges. If you have a pet question or pet photo to send to her, please e-mail it to Madeline@BlueSkyNews.com

A Word About the Internet
Since this is an e-mail newsletter, it's appropriate to include an occasional word or two about e-mail and the Internet.

Today's word is "public". You may already know this, but if you don't, you should know that there's nothing private about e-mail and browsing the internet.

The fact is, if you're "out there" e-mailing and exploring on the internet, anybody can have it, and anybody can see it. Adding to the excitement, whatever it is that you did out there is probably archived somewhere and can pop up again - often at a most inopportune time.

So the watchword is, "if you wouldn't do it in the middle of Interstate 5, don't do it in an e-mail or with your browser" - it's a public highway out there.

Why Boat People Don't Play the Piano
- By Gus Giobbi
There are more things on a boat that can nick, bang, smash, scrape, and bruise your body than you can shake a stick at.

He occasionally plays some "oldies but goodies" on the piano, but not after he's spent the weekend a boat because of the boat bites on his hands. To send him an e-mail about your own personal favorite "boat bite" experience, click here.

Today Could Be Your Day!
By Richard Benscoter
- Do you own a sailboat but have never entered in a race? Have you wondered what it would be like to win one and be number one on your dock along with the associated bragging rights? (At least until the next race).

But you marvel at the new one design boats, boats that are built for one thing only, racing, and you think how can I compete? You probably don't have the resources to outfit your boat with the latest state of the art computer designed sails, wind resistant fairleads and blocks, and let's not forget the running rigging made of the strongest, will not stretch one centimeter, material. So you make the decision not to compete.

Well, that may be the wrong choice for you, and here are some reasons why. All boats have ratings that are applied to your particular boat, based on its size, sail plan, and a host of other variables that once applied to all the boats in a race, level the playing field.

Additionally, in a race, you compete against boats in your same class such as spinnaker, non spinnaker. Race starts are also staggered depending on the class you are racing in - another way of leveling the playing field.

Still not convinced? Then let's look at this year's Newport to Ensenada race, the world's largest international yacht race. This annual race draws all types of boats and competitors from the very experienced to the person that has just two races under their belt.

This year 260 boats crossed the start line in Newport Beach and 157 finished in Ensenada, Mexico. But who took all the trophies home? The 80 foot boat? No, all the trophies this year went to an out of production Catalina 30 and owner Cleve Hardaker and crew. So what did they win, the whole enchilada, (1) the President of Mexico Trophy for first place overall in the race on corrected handicap time, (2) first among PHRF boats, (3) first in PHRF-K class for the highest-rated boats, (4) first Catalina boat and (5) a $5,000 Corum watch for first overall.

So what magic rabbit did Cleve Hardaker and crew pull out of their hat? Experience! Every race is different and conditions are never the same, so you rely on the knowledge you have on how your boat performs in any condition.

If you haven't raced yet, you should give it a try. You will gain a wealth of knowledge about your boat and its performance, and you too could be in the winner's circle.

See you on the water!