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After landing at the island, we had no sooner moored the boats and were about to look up our friends at the marine lab when who should appear but two Coast Guard officers. Were they mad? Wow! They gave us the devil for taking such a small a boat out in the ocean with no escort. They said "Back you go" when the tide changes. So we gobbled our lunch and headed back to our mooring. Unbeknown to us they had us in their binoculars the entire time so we were protected if any real problems had come up.

Later in Fall 1938, New England and the East Coast were hit badly by the Hurricane of 1938. Because of the hurricane warning, we had tied the boats up to trees along the shoreline but the storm was so bad that all of the boats were badly damaged, having been swept all over Great Bay. But fortunately Glover had taken out boat insurance, so new boats replaced those lost.

Later in 1990, the yacht club, now known as the UNH Sailing Club, moved to Mendums Pond, where the university has its recreation center. About that time, the club established a summer sailing program for young school children, which has been successful for a number of years.

The boats, sails and other equipment were all stored in a boathouse near the dock. In March 2010, the boathouse was set on fire by vandals, resulting in the loss of more than $600,000. Everything was completely destroyed and part of the dock burned as well. Thanks to the many people who contributed funds, along with the university's help, a replacement fleet of 20 new fiberglass boats were ordered. A few were available this fall. The annual Alumni Regatta was held Homecoming Weekend in October 2010 between alumni, parents and students.

My love of sailing, which originally stemmed from the club, has lasted over a period of 50 years and has included sailing in many beautiful waters, such as the British Virgin Islands, Long Island Sound, Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod and the Chesapeake. I donated my "Sweetie Pie" boat to the club this last fall.

The Sailing Club is now a club sport at UNH and may it long continue. It is now in its 75th year, and I too have had 75 years of looking for fair winds and following seas.

Dan Sweet '40 lives in Newfield, N.H., and Osprey, Fla. He is the class secretary for the Class of 1940.

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