Club officers this year were Commodore Arthur Rautenberg, Vice Commodore Wilbur Smale and Rear commodore Leo Wubbe.

Crescent’s New Years party was held as usual on December 31, 1953 and extended well into 1954. Square dancing, ballroom dancing, punch were featured.

Once again Otto Scherer has the Junior Sailing program under his tutelage and the kids enthused nearly to the same degree as he. During April Harry Mac Farlane energetically headed the drive to make the Lightning International a real success. Some dredging was done in the large and small harbors before the season started. Spring workday was April 24 and 77 Members participated.

Our Regatta came early this year on June 14 because of the Lightning Internationals. We again had perfect weather for the 156 contestants who entered.

Fate has devious ways to achieve her ends. "The Heads" at Crescent have always been inadequate. Yet they served their level best, which was frequently a low level. In view of coming events it was urgent that these facilities be greatly expanded. This was accomplished by "headman" Leo Wubbe and Members. The greatly enlarged "Head" facilities were termed "International House" by some unknown way in honor of the event that created it.

The Harbor Committee commandeered and begged temporary mooring for Members during the Internationals, which were held September 1 - 3. Large tents, expanded activities, Lightning’s and Lightning sailors all marked the week of Lightning Internationals and Presidents Cup series.

Newspaper, radio and television saluted and featured the defending champion P.C. Hank Cawthra and everyone hoped Lightning would strike twice in the same place; although it didn’t. The records aren’t complete and as long as our champion was dethroned let it be said Gene Wallet was crowned the new champion in that series.

Al Allardyce took the Michigan State Star Championship and Rear Commodore Leo Wubbe became Thistle Champion of the Michigan District to keep Crescent up among the leaders the important sailing events.

On top of all our improvements the Club installed a new oil-burning furnace. Now the Club is warm all over. Yet, gone are the old coal stoves, the scuttles, the shovels, the ashes and the scramble for a seat near the stove. Progress has been made, but an indefinable something has been lost. And so, October 30 was Fall Workday, the sign of season’s end.

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