Unfortunately this column today is headlined by the news that the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club is now decommissioned for the 2013 season — our 118th!

It all happened Sunday night when Capt. Sally Lloyd brought down the colors for the final time this season and Commodore Neil Newton declared the club officially closed. That said, the next thing that the 85-plus members present did was to retire to the bar and restaurant for another of Chef George’s fabulous prime rib dinners capped off by chocolate mouse raspbaree.

Let it also be said that the chef got a standing ovation for his fabulous season of feeding our faces (and yes, we also sang “Happy Birthday” to him).

The one who didn’t get fed was Capt. Greg Wright, whose name was drawn Friday night in the Fabulous Friday Freeforall, but because he wasn’t present, the $600 dinner chit was retired to antiquity unclaimed and unrequited. It is rumored that the program will restart again next year. However, Commodore elect Lee Krow has not yet made the official announcement.

The number of boats in the mooring field has dwindled day by day and it is very clear that fall is on the way. It is a sad day when we have to turn our thoughts from boats to skis or whatever winter sport turns one on. Of course, there are about 55 percent of our membership who head south for the winter leaving us hardy folks to care for the state of Maine. Paul Shacknow joins me in reminding folks that time is almost up to sign up for the winter reunion in West Palm Beach and the cruise to the Southern Caribbean immediately following.

Thanks to members: Gordon Nash, Mike Smith, Commodore Neil Newton, David Warner, PC Tony O’Neil, Pauline Dion, Rear Comm.-elect Eric Hakanson, PC Louise Holmes and Vice Commodore Greg Muzzy for joining yours truly in operating the safety boat for our enthusiastic high school sailing team. We also thank Commodore Neil for making cookies for the team to share on their Saturday regatta trips. (See news of last weekend’s foray to Portland in another Register article.)

Mahjong, bridge,and other events continue at the club but the dining room is closed. Men’s Lunch and Ladies Lunch Bunch are now meeting at each group’s winter hangouts. The men will meet at Mr. C’s and the ladies at Center Café on Wednesdays, of course. The regular Thursday night cocktails continue at the club, but from now on, it is bring your own hors d’oeuvres to share with everybody.

Last Monday was day number one of the flowers clean up and next Monday will be day number two. One other regular obsession this time of year is the finance committee budget process. They are meeting regularly with committee chairs and preparing to submit the 2014 plans at the October 5 board meeting.

Speaking of Thursday nights, we do meet once a month throughout the winter and hosts are needed to volunteer their homes as meeting places. Please call or email Louise Holmes at 207-882-5525 or icruise@gwi.net to volunteer for this much appreciated effort.

The first of these events is the annual Halloween Party, which is always a hoot!