Royal Palm Yacht Club

61st Inaugural Fleet Review

September 30th 2007

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Mother Nature has her way, but the RPYC Fleet adapts!

Traditions Ashore & Afloat

By Ellen Schneider

The last weekend in September is celebration time at Royal Palm Yacht Club, when its traditional Change of Watch takes place. This weekend-long event is when members say thanks to the outgoing commodore and directors, and welcome the new “watch.”

A highlight of the weekend is the Fleet Review, a parade of decorated boats along the Caloosahatchee, which is much anticipated by members. Planning for the Fleet Review begins early, and it is a precisely planned and orchestrated event – moving more than 20 boats of various types and sizes in and out of the club harbor is a task not to be taken lightly!

But all boaters know Mother Nature is not to be flouted. And this year, after two years of perfect weather for our event, she decided to pose a challenge.

Members’ boats began arriving in the Royal Palm Yacht Club harbor several days ahead of the weekend, along with weather forecasts for rising winds throughout the weekend. Small craft warnings were issued, and there were also the usual predictions of thundershowers. But after all, this is Southwest Florida in hurricane season!

Undaunted, captains and crew “dressed” their vessels in traditional signal flags, bunting and streamers from rails to the tops of masts. The decorations snapping in the stiff breezes made a colorful view from the RPYC clubhouse, as well as for boats passing on the Caloosahatchee.

The celebration began on Saturday evening with the formal dinner dance and Installation Ceremony. Sponsored by RPYC’s Order of the Blue Gavel (the organization of past commodores from all over). Members in formal dress were welcomed at the door by an honor guard of Cypress Lake High School JRROTC cadets. Outgoing Commodore Hal and Mrs. Slaughter, and incoming Commodore Bob and Judy Minahan, greeted guests, and they began an elegant evening. But much of the buzz during the evening was about tomorrow’s weather, and whether there would be a boat parade.