Wow! Our winter weather in Maryland has sure been a challenge. Hard to imagine in a few months we will be getting our boats ready and enjoying warm sunny days. Perhaps the 2010 Commodores should adopt a snowman on their burgee. Meanwhile, the Commodores Ball season goes on as best it can so I thought I would mention a few uniform pointers.

In general, attire is what you would wear to an evening wedding reception or formal dinner with the addition, as appropriate, of many folks wearing winter yacht club uniforms. Women wearing uniform skirts should wear long ankle length skirts. Men should wear Bow Ties. A tuxedo shirt with the uniform is appropriate and creates the most formal look, but a regular white shirt with bow tie is OK. 

For men not in uniform, tuxedoes are very much in the spirit of the occasion but are not required or expected. A longstanding yacht club tradition is for the First Lady or First Gentleman to wear white, which usually means wearing a white dress or tuxedo, even if they could also wear a uniform.

All officers and P/C’s of the host club should be in uniform. Representing officials at a Commodores Ball should be in the formal uniform of the club or organization they are representing. For all other persons who do not otherwise have an official role at the Ball, a uniform is optional but encouraged in the spirit of the occasion. A properly worn uniform shows respect to the host club and pride in your own club or organization.

As CCC P/C Chuck Lay so aptly demonstrated recently at the 2010 CCC Ball, yacht club officers, P/C’s, and officials not in uniform are introduced from their seats.

Uniforms should be worn properly and completely until the end of the Ball. The most formal "party" or dinner uniform involves a special short jacket and cumber bund with an ankle length skirt for women or suspender held high waist pants for men. This style of uniform is called "Mess Dress" by our Armed Services, and, although not often worn by yacht club officers in our area, is very appropriate for a Commodores Ball. If you know a service member who will be attending a Commodores Ball, they should be advised that wearing their uniform would be appropriate and appreciated and that they could wear "Mess Dress" or a formal uniform suitable to the occasion and season. After the ceremonies, the host club Commodore may relax the dress code by making an appropriate announcement but, until such an announcement is made, please don’t loosen or remove neckties and/or unbutton/remove jackets.

By the way, ALL yacht club members are entitled to wear a yacht club uniform. The differences among officers, P/C’s, Board Members, and members are denoted by sleeve braid and other insignia.

Till next time, see you around the Bay!