DELTA DOO DAH that they were so soundly spanked. Heh hem. Similar craziness undoubtedly sprouted up wherever Doo Dah'ers landed during their free days, and we wish we had room to share it all. Needless to say, Friday came all too soon. "I could have spent another week out here," said Jay Hickman of the Ericson 29 Moor'ea as he lounged in a hammock. Not wanting to miss the final Hoopla Party, Doo Dah'ers made their way from all over the Delta to converge on Stockton Sailing Club on Friday, July 3.

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tockton Sailing Club is famous for its hospitality, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. As Doo Dah boats — easily identified by the event's screaming yellow burgee — approached the club in the early afternoon, a crash boat met each one to give them their slip assignment. Once tied up, they were greeted by club members bearing hot-off-the-press issues of the July Latitude. "I was hoping they'd be here," exclaimed Ben Mewes of the custom Van de Stadt 41 Georgia,

John Chille & Lisa Donovan will take their Golden Gate 30 'Love in Vane' on the 2010 Ha-Ha.

who quickly ran off to the air conditioned clubhouse to grab a beer while he read the magazine. The club also made available a fleet of Optis and FJs for daysailing, and a shuttle to take folks to West Marine and the grocery store. And it was their efforts that really helped make the Hoopla memorable. Starting with a mouth-watering BBQ dinner, the party got underway. Doz-

Owl Harbor MARINA

Beautiful 20 acre greenbelt park in the Heart of the Delta s BERTHS PERFOOT s(OMEOF!NDREAS#OVE9ACHT#LUB ,OCATEDON3EVEN-ILE3LOUGH

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Latitude 38

• August, 2009

ens of Doo Dah'ers and club members crowded the pavilion to gorge themselves before the 'Dood' and 'Doodettes' (John Arndt, Christine Weaver and yours truly) had the pleasure of doling out prizes to every single entry. Some even got two! (Check out all the swag at www. deltadoodah.com/sponsors.) To top off an already great party, the Blue Water Rockers got the crowd on their feet with some classic rock. On July 4, the fleet dispersed — some beat their way back to the Bay while others stuck around for the Hilton family's annual Fireworks Extravaganza. As each boat motored out, a certain melancholy grew — it had been a frenetic and fantastic week, and now it was over.

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y all accounts, the inaugural Del ta Doo Dah really hit the mark. Participants raved, but even more importantly, shared their ideas for making the event even better. And while the dates haven't been set, it seems certain that there will indeed be a Delta Doo Dah Deux. — latitude/ladonna