Page 16 - Mar-Apr 2020

THE EDWARD M. HODDER DINNER
Bill Brennan
On January 25th, 31 recipients of The Hodder met for our annual dinner. As always Chef Michael provided an excellent meal which was enjoyed by all. This was the eleventh dinner the first having been held on the 26th of March 2010.
This year we were missing my co-founder Peter Edwards who passed away on July 25th of last year. He is missed by all of us especially his wife and closest friend of 46 years, Pat. Peter had a distinguished military career. He volunteered to go to Korea with the First Royal Tank Regiment which as part of the UN force saw active combat. I do not have room to review all of Peter’s accomplishments. I will tell you he established the archives at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and worked as the Honourary Archivist for ten years. Peter, using his skill as a vexillologist (the study of history, symbolism and usage of flags), designed the Hodder flag. In the summer of 2003 Peter and I met on the South Island bridge. The result of our conversation was The Edward M. Hodder Award.
At the dinner it was announced that from this time forward Peter’s favourite anchorage Prinyner’s Cove will be known as The Peter Edward’s Anchorage. All Hodder recipients and those aspiring to be awarded The Hodder should stop as they pass and wish Peter
well. If you anchor and stay the night you should raise a glass and salute Peter.
We do not have any changes to The Award this year. As you know both the ports in Oshawa and Port Hope are closed. This means you no longer are required to visit, but must replace them with another overnight stop. When I wrote the award book, we had what was assumed normal water levels most of the time. Once every 20 years or so the level would rise significantly. Now the exception may have become the norm, ports which were not considered in the original Hodder are now accessible.
There is no requirement for
you to visit these locations, but I am told they are very nice and well worth the visit. I have, with the unanimous agreement of The Hodders,
made the following addition.
“Ports on the south side of Prince Edward County from Presqu’ile to Long Point, if visited overnight, may be included in either the Lake Ontario North Shore or because they are in The County, the Bay of Quinte sections. While not limited to the following this would include Wellington as a port and Nicholson Island, West Lake and Wellers Bay as anchorages.“
If you do not have one, I would encourage you to get a Hodder Book from the Sailing Office and read it. The next step is to meet one of the recipients who will be able to answer any questions you may have. We are well aware that there are impediments to achieving the award. Jobs, marriage and children limit the time you may have to complete the journey. Let me remind you it is a journey not a race. You have a lifetime to complete the requirements. Once you are a Member of the Club, your Edward M. Hodder Award starts by staying overnight at one port or anchorage.
Have a great spring, I hope to see you on the Island polishing the yacht.
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MARCH/APRIL 2020 • KWASIND
SAILING