A week after "Pirate Day" 2016, the Jolly Roger is still flying above Hoofers. Apparently some people aren't sure whether or not the event actually happened yet (and maybe Hoofers is soliciting some real pirate action...)
If you missed PD '16, you didn't miss much. We had a watered down version of a treasure hunt race, union food afterwards, and a few people even dressed up in "pirate" outfits. You could also trek off to the hot, filthy under-construction Union and stand in line to buy beer.
It was nothing like the rollicking PD's of the past. A grand total of 55 people participated (much less than 10% of the club), and the festivities were over and most people long gone by 5 PM. No more raucous boardwalk party going into the night, no more slinging people off piers, no more boats going back out for skirmishes. Overall, a sad reflection of the great PD's of the past.
So what happened? New rules happened. Trying to cover their asses for past negligence--and probably upset that as Union managers they can't participate in the fun at Hoofers--Mark Guthier and other Union staff have worked to make it harder for the rest of us to have fun. New ad hoc rules including the prohibitions on alcohol are their method.
The lifejacket rule (if indeed it is still a rule) is also negligent. On PD, many people wore their lifejackets and risked heat stroke on the sunny, 90 degree, light-wind day in spite of the idiocy of doing so (non-swimmers excepted). As for the alcohol rule, it's easy enough to circumvent, but the overall restrictions including on land serve no purpose except to suffocate the social side of the club.
One can argue that people should be able to have fun without drinking, but then why doesn't Guthier prohibit alcohol at the Union altogether..? It's because that generates big revenue for the Union, and if Guthier did so, the Regents would fire him faster than they'd dig out an Indiana tick.
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The Club now has to cater to a new demographic. Up until now, it has been embraced by those who perhaps over-imbibe on fermented beverages. Take away the alcohol and why would they hang-out for Pirates Day or the upcoming Commodores Cup? Both events have in recent years devo'd into less sailing and more hammer time.
ReplyDeleteI have every confidence that The Club will adapt and find a new group of people who enjoy Hoofers without alcohol. And that would mean, in the not-too-distant-future, the Commodore's Cup becoming the Cannabis Cup.
I just dread having to attend 1 more Commodores Cup/PD led by that, I'm sorry to say, incompetent leader last year. She sucked all the fun out of the whole thing, and ruined Pirates Day. She openly begged for bribes, or "other favors". Can we please find someone who is fun and inclusive to lead these events?
ReplyDeleteCannabis Cup. Good idea. C-Cup goers will be ready for cookies and punch after catching the puffs out on the lake.
ReplyDelete'Jay' Boat Races - BYOJ
Wouldn't it be ironic if the no-alcohol policy led to more and more Hoofers turning to pot for those laid back sunset cruises? It's definitely easier to smuggle a dime bag aboard than to drag a cooler full of beer/ice down the pier and load it onto your boat.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days you're going to hear security asking someone, "Why does your juice bottle have a carburetor..?"
Good one Admiral! Once upon a time, Hoofer's was more 420 friendly. Those were good times. Not that I imbibed, but people were friendlier while wearing illicit smiles. A beer to knock down the cotton mouth followed by some awesome food at the socials. No fighting or belligerent behavior. And, the keelboats were not filled with sticky trash and barf. Lot to be said for that!
ReplyDeleteAs a Hoofer who believes in the infallibility of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Nancy's words should inspire us yet again to 'Just Say No'. And that not only goes for beer and mary jane, but absolute abstinence. The Hoofer Conservative Values Committee has proposed new life jackets with an iron maiden type flap secured and locked over tingly areas. The Boathouse staff keep the keys so that no shenanigans or tom foolery can occur. This also eliminates public pee peeing off the keels.
ReplyDelete