Summer is a season full of traditions, memory-making, and “back-in-the-day” reminiscences. Annual trips to a family cabin on the lake. Friendships made on New Hampshire shorelines. Boating with neighbors. Times to cherish.
I felt these summer sensations recently, along with the sweet breezes of Lake Monomonac, as I coasted along with lake residents Nancy and Bill Gunther in their family’s pontoon boat. Summertime over in Rindge on the lake was in full bloom. The sails of Sunfish, Lasers and Flying Scots created a colorful bouquet as they gathered at the starting line for the Monomonac Lake Sailing Association’s third race of the season. Lake spectators floated along in small watercraft, kayaks and Jet Skis, seemingly eager to enjoy the friendly competition that such an event has to offer.
For Nancy and Bill, and the other 75 members of the Monomonac Lake Sailing Association, or MLSA, this summer is one worth treasuring. For 70 years, members of the association have gathered weekly throughout each summer for sailboat races on Lake Monomonac. The first organized race took place on this very week in 1952.
According to Jib Sheet, an annual publication produced and printed by the MLSA, the idea for a formal, yet friendly, sailing association was hatched during a chat between boatsmen Ed Starrett and Rollie Blake. While out for a sail on their respective boats one Sunday afternoon in 1951, the two men agreed to the concept and began to seek out membership on the lake.
From there, a group of interested sailors formed the Monomonock Lake Sailing Association and held nine sailing races in its premiere 1952 season (The spelling of “Monomonock” remained until 1992, when it was changed to “Monomonac.”) Every week during the summer since then, a course has been set and buoys have been placed by the MLSA’s fleet captain in preparation for race day. Association member Chip Hastings usually serves as fleet captain. Now 73, Hastings has been sailing on the lake since he was 10 years old.
Over the many summers since the fateful day Starrett and Blake met up on the waters of Monomonock, the MLSA has evolved to include enjoyable traditions, such as the annual pancake breakfast on Commodore Island and the Fourth of July Boat Parade. Nancy and Bill proudly share with me the camaraderie and sense of community within the association: sailboat statues handmade by member and Commodore Dale Dintaman to be awarded at the close of the season, the involvement and teaching of young Monomonac sailors, celebrating member’s life milestones through the Jib Sheet’s annual “Scuttlebutt” page.
In all, 15 boats raced that Saturday I spent on Lake Monomonac with the Gunthers. A Laser with a white sail took a strong lead three-quarters of the way in, and met the finish line at Commodore Island before its competitors. The horn sounded by Dintaman signaled a winner until next week, when these beautiful sailboats congregate again for this wonderful summertime tradition.
Happy 70th Anniversary to the MLSA!
Coming up in Rindge
Conservation Commission Hike and Paddle — Join the Rindge Conservation Commission on July 24 at 1:30 p.m. at Converse Meadow for family friendly hike and paddle tours. All are invited to either hike the trails of Converse Meadow or a paddle by canoe or kayak on the pond. Tours will be led by experienced, knowledgeable Conservation Commission or Corps members. Converse Meadow is located on Converseville Road, off of Route 119 (opposite Wellington Road). To learn more about this or future ConCom events, send email to rindgeconcom@town.rindge.nh.us.
Project Shakespeare — Project Shakespeare is coming to Cathedral of the Pines for a PS Mainstage performance of “The Taming of the Shrew” and the PS Too! young company performance of “Shakespeare Gone Mad!” July 27 at 6 p.m. (rain date July 28). Project Shakespeare is a theater group made up of youth performers (under the age of 18) from all throughout the region, including several from Rindge.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Go to projectshakespeare.org for information and performance dates.