SAND BANK YACHT CLUB NOTES
by John Lacey
On 14th January one hundred members of Sand Bank Yacht Club and their guests attended the 26th Change of Watch Dinner at Treasure Cay Spinnaker Restaurant. The Past Commodore, Commodore, Vice Commodore and Rear Commodore for 1998 are Dairell Snapp, Brian Sheehe, John Lacey and Bill Floyd, all of whom moved up from their 1997 positions. The incoming Fleet Captain is Gerry Shelly. Nelson Radwan resumes his post as the Club's Treasurer.
Cocktails were served on the Spinnaker patio. Members then enjoyed baked scampi, French onion soup, and a choice of roast beef, rack of lamb or Chicken Kiev, with Duchesse potatoes and mixed vegetables. Chocolate fudge cake, coffee and champagne followed. The meal was lovingly prepared by Head Chef Elliot Sawyer and his kitchen staff, and served by Head Waiter Vernon Russell and his service team.
During his review of 1997 events, Dairell Snapp thanked Club officers and their wives, especially Bill and Myrna Floyd, for their untiring efforts to assure a banner 1997 social season. Among his accolades to Club members for their help throughout the year, he singled out Bruce and Doreen Barth for their special contributions, which included construction of 21 model yachts as table decorations at that evening's dinner. He thanked his wife Anna for acting on his behalf at the 1997 Change of Watch Dinner when illness prevented his attendance. Anna then made some brief remarks and donated a personally crocheted table decoration to each lady present. John Lacey gave the Treasurer's report in Nelson Radwan's absence. He reviewed the Club's membership status, which is full and with a substantial waiting list.
Dairell then lauded Peter Plumb for his dedicated service throughout his 15 years as a Club officer and, to their complete surprise, conferred Honorary Memberships on Peter and his wife Molly, whom he praised for her diligence in the preparation of Club event announcements over many years.
Dairell oversaw the passing of flags from last year's to this year's officers and turned his watch over to Brian Sheehe, who presented Dairell with his Past Commodore's Cap and thanked him for his outstanding service, to well-deserved member applause. At Brian's invitation, Gerry Shelly sketched the 1998 programme and distributed detailed announcements for the events planned for the year. They include a Tiara and Tails House Boat Excursion and Champagne Brunch on 14th March, a Nunjack Cay Boat Excursion and Picnic on 7th April, a Seaspray Resort Lunch and Tour on 28th April and Haunted Hallowe'en Party on 30th October. The Club's 1999 Change of Watch Dinner will be held on 14th January. Copies of the information distributed at the dinner will be sent to those members who were unable to attend.
On 3rd February, 107 members and their house guests celebrated a Tiara and Tails Party at Argyle House, the palatial home of John and Margaret Bahen on Ocean Boulevard in Treasure Cay. Attendees were required to wear black and white tails and ladies were required to wear tiaras.
For weeks before the event, party and variety stores in Marsh Harbour were denuded of black and white fabric, sequins, imitation jewellery, glitter, cardboard and a host of creatively-employed materials used by participants in their efforts to comply with the eveningÕs dress requirements and to win prizes to be awarded for the best designs.
We enjoyed appetizers, champagne, wine and cash-bar cocktails as prelude to an exquisite banquet of green salad, lobster, steak, baked potatoes, baked stuffed tomato, English trifle, red and white wine and champagne.
Nadine Sheehe, as a small token of the Club's gratitude for the use of their home and grounds, presented John and Margaret Bahen with a set of Argyle House dinner napkins, specially designed and made by Barbara Farnan for the occasion.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, disguised as Mike and Gae Meeson, then treated the audience to an exhibition fox trot, after which we danced the evening away under the stars to Gerard Cooper and His Music. In keeping with the finest tradition, ladies used dance cards created by Nadine Sheehe to organise their dance appointments.
The prize for most creative tiara (a CD titled 'Romanza' by Andrea Bocelli) was won by Jean Townsend. The prize for the best set of tails (a bottle of Appleton rum) was won by Gerry Shelly.
All agreed that the evening was among the finest in Sand Bank Yacht Club history. No spectacle of this kind can be mounted without the dedicated hard work of myriad members and guests. Such was the case at the Tiara and Tails Party. In addition to those mentioned in this report, the Club's special gratitude is extended to Margaret and John Bahen; Dave Buchanan; Helen Shelley Patrick and Carolynn Kingsford and their daughters Charlotte, Trish and Vicky; Cynthia and Paul Vernall; and all Club officers, especially Gerry Shelly who organised this most successful event
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