It is time to open the club for the 2006 season.

There will be a general meeting on Monday, May 1st at 8:00pm in the main hall of the Piedmond Club.  Please try to attend as we will have a guest speaker from the Westport Outfitters (I will give you information later in this letter).  Donuts and coffee will be served.

Date to remember:

Opening day May 6th guards will start at this date.  (Jim has informed me he will accept boats starting April 17th if they will check with him before bringing their boats to the club.)

Opening Picnic:  May 21, 2006
Mid-season Picnic: July 23, 2006
Lobster Bake: September 9, 2006
End-of-season Picnic: September 24, 2006

Now under the new ownership of Eric Johnson, Westport Outfitters will be joining us to discuss fishing "The Legendary Norwalk Islands" on May 1st.  Come hear Captain Steve Tiffinger, a veteran captain who has fished our local waters for over 20 years.  Learn the most productive rips, tide patterns and techniques that consistently produce trophy bass and blues.  An emphasis will be on several shallow water spots where fly fishermen and light spin tackle enthusiasts can catch fish all season long.  Westport Outfitters, now located inside Cove Marina is a complete outfitter offering boat sales, service, fresh/saltwater tackle, instruction and charters.  You will not want to miss this one and be sure to bring your chart!

Last year The Boat Club experimented with adding some solar lights along the docks.  The reception was extremely positive and we will be putting them back, and adding some more.  We ask you to be careful of these lights, as they will not stand being roped, snagged by hoses, or hit by carts or feet.  And we did lose a couple last year.  We will attempt to put more sturdy bases on them; however, we ask all to please be careful.
Thank you.

Tom Williams is updating the club history book and is looking for photos of Floyd Hall and any other interesting snapshots anyone wants to add.

Message from the Mooring Committee:

The Mooring Committee would like each and every member who has a slip to read the following instructions carefully.  We realize that these instructions seem a bit harsh; however we want to make sure that everyone using our facilities is indeed a member of the club and accurately  representing their information.  With more than 350 families waiting for slips, we need to be vigilant with the allocation of our facilities.

We thank you for your cooperation and look forward to a wonderful season of boating.

Mooring Committee:

Chairman:  Jerry Kutz, 656-3171, dbcdocks@aol.com

Members: Jim Baker (also Club Manager) 656-1446,
Vin Burke

1.  All slip holders are reminded that you must have your boat in your slip by
     June 15, 2006, or you will forfeit your slip.  If you are unable to meet this
     deadline, you must contact the Mooring Chairman with adequate notice
     prior to the deadline.

2.  Every slip holder MUST  provide a copy of your current Connecticut DMV
     Boat Registration to the Mooring Committee within 48 hours of placing
     your boat in your slip.  Any member who fails to provide a copy of their
     current registration to the Mooring Committee by June 15, 2006 will forfeit
     their slip and it will be given to the next person on the waiting list.  It is your
     responsibility to provide this documentation to the Mooring Committee.
     We will not chase anyone for this documentation.  Members with "Docu-
      mented Vessels" please contact the Mooring Chairman.  (Members may
      mail their registrations to: Jerry Kutz, 11 Patricia Lane, Darien or turn
      them in at the Boat Club Office.)

3.  Your registration MUST be in the name of the Member, the Member's
      Spouse or both.  No other names may appear on the registration.  The
      address on the registration must match your address of record at the
      Darien Boat Club.  Any member who presents a registration that does
      not match the member's name and address of record will have until
      June 15, 2006 to make the proper alterations.  If the Mooring
      Committee does not receive an acceptable registration by June 15,
      2006, you will forfeit your slip and it will be given to the next person on
      the wait list.  Members who have formed "partnerships" are urged to
      read the "By-Laws" and "House and Ground Rules" carefully and
      contact the Mooring Chairman.

4.   If you purchase a new boat you MUST get approval from the Mooring
      Committee to place the boat in  your slip.  Forms are available from the
      Mooring Committee members, at the Boat Club Office, or at
      www.darienboatclub.org/NewBoatApplications.pdf
      If you do not get prior approval, you must remove your boat from the
      slip until approval is granted.

5.   If you purchase a new boat without the approval of the Mooring
      Committee and it does not meet the Size Limitations on the Class
      Specification Sheet (attached to the New Boat Form), you will have
      until June 15, 2006 to place the proper sized boat, approved by the
      Mooring Committee, in the slip.  If you fail to do this by June 15, 2006
      you forfeit your slip and it will be given to the next person on the wait
      list.

Let's all have a safe and enjoyable boating season!

Sincerely,

Phil Raymond, Commodore