Director's Blog

Got to love the sunshine today, even if it was a little brisk. As Peter Simon said, it's a good day to be happy. Got the April issue of The Scuttlebutt in the mail, and sent a new Champion hat off to Henry Barkhausen, the fine gentleman who donated her to us.

Speaking of hats, we have a new batch of Madeline, Welcome, and the new Champion hats in stock. They are quite comfortable and very snazzy, and only 15 bucks in the MHA Ship Store.

You may have noticed that the ice took a toll on the "old rickety dock" near our harbor, which is owned by the Grand Traverse Bay Alliance and managed by Rich and me. Several charter fisherman lease dock space from the GTBA each year, and this money helps to reduce the cost of maintaining our shops. The old pirate Don Balcom and his tug and barge will be coming down next week to make the necessary repairs to the dock.

The fine old workboat Mary J will be back on the dock this summer, and back in service for the GTYC races, serving as the race committee boat each Wednesday night. If you would like to join us on Mary for a ring side seat for the racing action, give me a call and be there by 5 sharp. Mary J will celebrate her 80th birthday this summer, and a big party is being planned in her honor.

Happy Easter everone, and I hope you like the new look to the MHA website. Big thanks to Paul Yezbak for his fine work creating it and the Schooner Festival and SAIL Champion sites too.